Method for recording and reproducing information, apparatus therefor and recording medium

ABSTRACT

In the information recording an reproducing method and apparatus according to the present invention, picture image information is recorded as an analog quantity or a digital quantity on an information carrying medium in a planar manner at a high density, charge potential is read for outputting electric signals to correspond to the recorded picture image information and then the outputted signals are printed out by means of various display unit or output device, with high quality and high resolution as well as ease processing of the information. The information carrying medium provides a long period of storage of information and enables stored picture image information to be repeatedly reproduced with a picture quality according to need. Particularly, it is, according to the present invention, possible to read and output local potential of an information carrying medium with predetermined scanning density at a desired time, and so pictures of high quality may be output as a silver salt photograph is taken and reproduced by optically scanning the film. Thus, the present invention may be applied to a wide field including photographing, copying and printing.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/370,466 filed Jan. 9,1995, abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.08/156,939, filed Nov. 24, 1993, abandoned, which is a continuation ofSer. No. 07/882,282 filed May 13, 1992, abandoned, which is a divisionof application Ser. No. 07/352,525 filed May 16, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No.5,161,233.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for recording and reproducinginput information, an apparatus for the stone and a recording mediumsuch as a card and a label.

Heretofore, silver salt photography is known as a high sensitivityphotographing technology, in which a taken image is recorded on a filmor the like material through developing process, and then reproduced byusing a silver salt emulsion on a photographic paper or by opticallyscanning the developed film to display it on a cathode ray tube(hereinafter referred to as CRT).

Also known is an electrophotography method in which a photoconductivelayer which is deposited together with an electrode is fully charged bycorona electric charging at a dark place, after which thephotoconductive layer is exposed to intense light to thereby makeexposed portions conductive. Charges of the exposed portions are leakedfor removal to optically form an electrostatic latent image on thephotoconductive layer, and then a toner which has electric chargesopposite in polarity to (or the same as) the remaining charges isadhered to the latter for development.

Although this technology is mainly used in photocopying, it cannot begenerally used for photographing because of low sensitivity, and inphotocopying the toner developing is carried out at once after anelectrostatic latent image is formed since charge holding time is short.

In television photography, a picture image is obtained by a camera tube,which provides electric signals of the picture image by means of aphotosemiconductor for outputting to a CRT or for video recording bymagnetic recording or the like to output the image on CRT as desired.

Silver salt photography is excellent for storing a taken object image,but it needs developing to form a silver salt image and furthercomplicated optical, eleotrical and chemical processing for reproducingthe image in a hard copy or a soft copy (GRT output).

Although electrophotography is easier and quicker in developing anelectrostatic latent image than silver salt photography, the former isinferior to the latter in the storing period of a latent image,resolution of the developer and picture quality.

Television photography requires linear scanning for obtaining andrecording electric picture signals provided by a camera tube. Linearscanning is carried out by an electron beam in the camera tube and by amagnetic head in video recording. Resolution of the televisionphotography image depends on the number of scanning lines and hence itis considerably inferior to planar analog recording such as silver saltphotography.

Television photography using a solid-state image device such a CCD isessentially the same in resolution as the above-described televisionphotography.

In these technologies, there-are disadvantages such that high qualityand high resolution picture image recording requires complicatedprocessing while simpler processing of picture images results in lack ofstoring function or degradation of picture quality. Gramophone records,cassette tapes or the like media are used for recording auralinformation, and video tapes, compact discs, optical discs are used forrecording picture image information and aural information. Althoughrecords and cassette tapes are very convenient media for recordingvoice, they have too small memory capacity to record picture imageinformation. Video tapes require linear scanning, and are quite inferiorin resolution to planar analog recording such as silver saltphotography. Compact discs and optical discs have essentially the samepoor resolution as video tapes.

In the field of printing, the image processing system includes anoriginal scanning unit, computer and exposure recording. The original isscanned and is subjected to picture image processing, such as colorcorrection and sharpness processing, and a scanner is used for recordingthe image on a film. When a color scanner is used, in the originalscanning unit a color original is photoelectrically scanned to provideunadjusted three-color (red R, green G and blue B) separation signals,which are stored in a magnetic disc or a magnetic tape. The computerreads data stored to apply various processing, such as color adjustment,tone adjustment and picture image composition, and then provide adjustedfour color separation signals. In the exposure recording unit, a film isexposed to scanning exposure in synchronism with the original scanningaccording to the four-color separation signals to output an adjustedfour-color separation picture image.

Picture image data, read from the original, are enormous and hence theyare according to the prior art scanner system, temporarily stored in amagnetic disc or a magnetic tape, and are read as desired. However, thescanner system needs much time to record picture image data to and readthem from a magnetic disk or a magnetic tape and furthermore requires alarge space for storing a large number of magnetic discs or tape tostore enormous image data, say tens MB of data. In addition, there is adisadvantage that data stored in a magnetic tape may be damaged duringlong term of storing.

In printing, positioning of an original is necessary for setting it on areading cylinder; it is hard to set the original on the reading cylinderwith an accurate rotation angle for rotating it a predetermined angle.In addition, various kinds of processing, such as color adjustment,masking and sharpness processing, are performed by computer operation,which involves a great amount of processing. This requires a largecomputer, resulting in an expensive large-scaled system.

Usually in the printing process, the projecting department makes as thefirst step thereof instructions concerning an enlargement ratio of alantern slide original and trimming as to what portion thereof is to beprinted. For example, in trimming indication a tracing paper is placedon a 35 mm film original for transferring the pattern thereof by pencilto make the indication, with a description of the enlargement ratio. Thetrimming indication is put on a bag containing the original by anadhesive tape and sent to a printing step together with a schedulesheet. During transportation of this document, the tracing paper canseparate from the original or can be spoiled.

In the conventional scanner, an original is applied to the drum andhence there are disadvantages such that finger prints may be placed onthe original, and such that the original may be broken in separationfrom the drum. For a small enlargement ratio, an original is directlyapplied to the drum by spraying a powder to it to avoid Newton rings dueto partial difference in adhesiveness between the original and the drum.For a high enlargement ratio, after being dipped in paraffin, anoriginal is applied around the drum by means of transparent polyesterfilm for preventing image of the powder from appearing in the printedpicture image. Thus, the scanner involves a problem of the originalbeing spoiled due to spraying of the powder and dipping of the originalin paraffin. In addition, these operations require time consumingpreparation which reduces productivity.

In the conventional photocopying machine, a photoconductive layer whichis deposited together with an electrode is fully charged by coronaelectric charging at a dark place, after which the photoconductive layeris exposed to intense light to thereby make exposed portions conductive.Charges of the exposed portions are leaked for removal to optically forman electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive layer, and thentoner is applied which has an electric charge opposite in polarity to(or the same as) the remaining charge.

The exposure process according to the prior art copying machine requireshigh voltage and large electric power since electrostatic latent imagesare formed by exposing intense light after corona charging is fullycarried out at high voltage. Although electrostatic latent imagesobtained can be promptly developed by a toner with ease, the tonerdevelopment must be carried out at once after formation of theelectrostatic latent image since the charge holding time is very short.Thus, it is not possible to perform toner developing of the latent imageafter a considerable period of time has passed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method andapparatus for recording and reproducing information, which enablesrecorded characters, drawings, pictures, codes and binary information tobe repeatedly reproduced in a quality according to need, with highresolution, ease in processing and relatively long term storing of thelatent image. The method and apparatus may be used in various fields oftechnology.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an informationrecording and reproducing apparatus which records aural information.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aninformation recording and reproducing method which improves sensitivityof recording.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an informationcarrying medium which is able to be repeatedly used by removing a latentimage in it in an easy and positive manner.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aninformation recording and reproducing apparatus which is capable ofreducing time for recording and reading an original image, storingsemipermanently the original read and performing picture composition,color correction, masking, sharpness treatment and the like processingwith ease.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an informationcarrying medium containing information of a printing original andoriginal processing, the medium being adapted to pass through each stepof printing process, whereby the printing original may be positivelyprotected from being spoiled.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide aninformation carrying medium which reduces preparation time for scanningwith a color scanner, and which prevents an original from being damaged.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method,apparatus and recording medium which are capable of copying an originalto the recording medium at a high speed with ease.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus which are capable of recording and reproducing informationwith high quality, high resolution, low voltage and low powerconsumption.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus which provide storing of information for a long period ascompared to the prior art and is capable of toner development asdesired.

With these and other objects in view, the present invention includes aninformation carrying medium, including a photosensitive member having aphotosensitive layer, and an insulation layer arranged to face thephotosensitive member. A piece of input information is stored in theinformation carrying medium for reproducing the piece of the inputinformation in an electrical, optical or thermal manner.

One aspect of the present invention may perform the reproduction ofinformation by reading charge potential measuring means.

According to the present invention, there may be provided electrostaticpotential measuring means for reading an electrostatic potential of aninformation carrying medium having an electrostatic latent imagerecorded; control means for controlling scan driving of the informationcarrying medium or the electrostatic potential measuring means, wherebythe electrostatic latent image is developed by scan driving theinformation carrying medium or the electrostatic potential measuringmeans.

The present invention may have a feature that there are provided aphotosensitive member having a photosensitive layer and an insulationlayer arranged to face the photosensitive member, the informationcarrying medium being adapted to store an input information.

In a preferred form of the present invention, there are provided: aphotosensitive member having a photoconductive layer provided with anelectrode on a front face thereof; an information carrying medium havingan insulation layer provided with an electrode on a rear face thereof,the insulation layer facing the photosensitive member, and thephotosensitive member and the information carrying medium being arrangedalong an optical axis; and a switch for applying and removing voltageacross the electrodes, an electrostatic latent image, corresponding toan incident optical image, being formed on the information carryingmedium by actuating the switch, and wherein the photoconductive layer ismade of a low resistance photoconductive material which is adapted togenerate as carriers charges of the same polarity as the electrode ofthe photosensitive member.

In another preferred mode of the present invention, an informationrecording and reproducing method comprises the steps of: arranging aphotosensitive member and an information carrying medium to face to eachother; forming an electrostatic latent image on the information carryingmedium thus arranged by exposure to light under application of voltagethereby to store information; and erasing the electrostatic latent imageby exposure to light under application of a reverse voltage.

In still another preferred form of the present invention, an informationrecording and reproducing method comprises the steps of: performingexposure to light under application of voltage for storing anelectrostatic latent image on an information carrying medium, the mediumfacing a photosensitive member, and wherein a dielectric member isinterposed between the photosensitive member and the informationcarrying medium.

In a preferred form of the present invention, there is provided aninformation recording and reproducing apparatus using an informationcarrying medium in which picture image data read from an original arestored, the stored picture image data is read for picture imageprocessing in a computer to produce processed data of a picture image,the data of the processed picture image is stored and then the storeddata is read to provide output to a recording medium, including theimprovement in which the computer includes the information carryingmedium as an external memory thereof for storing the picture image data.

Another preferred form of the present invention provides an informationrecording and reproducing apparatus in which rays of information lightfrom an original, placed in position, are read by means of an inputscanner, having the improvement wherein an electrostatic latent image isformed on an information carrying medium by imposing rays of theinformation light, and wherein a piece of information of an original isread by reading potential of the electrostatic latent image formed.

Still another preferred embodiment of the present invention provides aninformation recording and reproducing apparatus comprising read meansfor reading data of an electrostatic latent image in an informationcarrying medium in which a piece of information of a printing originalis recorded as an electrostatic latent image by exposure to light underapplication of voltage; signal processing means for processing theelectrostatic latent image data read; display means for displaying animage according to the electrostatic latent image data; and recordingmeans for recording the electrostatic latent image data, signalprocessed, in the information carrying medium, and wherein theinformation carrying medium is adapted to be used as an original forprinting.

In a preferred form of the present invention, there is provided aninformation recording and reproducing apparatus comprising:electrostatic latent image reading means for reading an electrostaticlatent image in an information carrying medium to provide read signals;signal processing means for signal processing the read signals, thesignal processing including a color correction operation; display meansfor displaying a color image according to the processed read signals;setting up means for setting up a scanner; and exposure means forexposing an engraving film to rays of light, whereby the electrostaticlatent image is read for color display.

In a preferred mode of the present invention, there is provided aninformation recording and reproducing method comprising the steps of:arranging an original in contact or non-contact with an informationcarrying medium to face to each other, the original having a pattern,including a conductive portion and an insulating portion, formedthereon, the information carrying medium having an insulation layerformed on an electrode substrate; and applying d.c. voltage between theconductive portion of the pattern and the electrode of the informationcarrying medium for forming an electrostatic latent image on theinformation carrying medium to correspond to the pattern of theoriginal.

Another preferred mode of the present invention provides an informationrecording and reproducing method, in which an electrostatic latent imageis formed on an information carrying medium by exposing a photosensitivemember to rays of light while voltage is applied between thephotosensitive member and the information carrying medium, having theimprovement wherein the information carrying medium is in the shape of adrum, and wherein a strip of the photosensitive member is used wherebythe exposure is carried out by using rays of scanning light or slittedlight.

A preferred form of the present invention provides an informationrecording and reproducing apparatus wherein there are provided a lightsource for illuminating a plane of an original to obtain rays ofinformation light, a photosensitive member on which rays of informationlight are imposed, an information carrying medium arranged to face thephotosensitive member, and a developer for toner developing theinformation carrying medium, wherein an electrostatic latent image isformed in the information carrying medium by exposure to light whilevoltage is applied between the photosensitive member and the informationcarrying medium, and wherein the electrostatic latent image is tonerdeveloped.

Preferably, the information recording and reproducing apparatus of thepresent invention may comprise a photosensitive member, having aphotoconductive layer formed with an electrode at a front face thereof,and an information carrying medium having an insulation layer providedat a rear face thereof with an electrode, and wherein: the informationcarrying medium is arranged to face the photosensitive member, imageexposure is carried out from the side of the photosensitive member orthe information carrying medium while voltage is applied across theelectrodes, then the information carrying medium is separated from thephotosensitive member, and the separated information carrying medium issubjected to toner development for forming a toner picture image.

The information carrying medium is preferably formed in the shape of acard, and data are stored as an electrostatic latent image.

In a preferred form, there are provided information recording andreproducing apparatus comprising irradiating means for applying rays ofinformation light and a photosensitive member including aphotoconductive layer, wherein an electrostatic recording card isarranged to face the photosensitive member for storing data as anelectrostatic latent image in the electrostatic recording card.

Preferably, the information carrying medium is adapted to record in partthereof a hologram image or a specified electrostatic latent image forpreventing forging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the principle of aninformation recording and reproducing method according to the presentinventions;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the principle of theinformation recording and reproducing method in FIG. 1 usingphotoelectret;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the principle of theinformation recording and reproducing method of the present inventionusing thermoelectret;

FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d) are diagrammatic views illustrating the informationrecording and reproducing method of the present invention usingphotoconductive fine particles;

FIGS. 5(a) to 5(c) are diagrammatic views illustrating a charge storingmethod according to the present invention using photoconductive fineparticles;

FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are views showing how to store information by meansof irregularity of the surface of the information recording material;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the information recording andreproducing apparatus for picturizing electrostatic latent imageaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an electrostatic latent image;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a detected potential distribution of theelectrostatic latent image in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a view showing a developed example of the electrostaticlatent image in FIG. 8;

FIGS. 11 to 13 are views illustrating direct current amplification typepotential reading methods according to the present invention;

FIGS. 14 to 16 are views alternating current type potential readingmethods according to the present invention;

FIGS. 17(a), 17(b) and 18 illustrate how to read potential according toCT scan;

FIG. 19 is an illustration of a power collecting type potential readingmethod;

FIG. 20 illustrates an electron beam type potential reading methodaccording to the present invention;

FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate a method of reading potential, using tonercoloring;

FIGS. 23 to 25 illustrate how to output a color picture, optically read,to a thermal dye transfer printer according to the present invention;

FIG. 26 is an illustration of an example of an output to a meltingtransfer printer;

FIG. 27 is an illustration in which luminous and unexposed portions areformed in the information carrying medium of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is an illustration as to how to compensate image potential inthe present invention;

FIGS. 29(a) to 29(c) are illustrations as to how to form the luminousportion in the present invention;

FIGS. 30(a) to 30(c) are diagrammatic views illustrating how to form anunexposed portion in the present invention;

FIG. 31 is an illustration of a high resolution information recordingand reproducing apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a view showing a three color separation optical system;

FIGS. 33(a) to 33(e) are views illustrating how color photography iscarried out;

FIG. 34 is an illustration of an example of a fine color filter;

FIG. 35 is an illustration of an example in which a fine color filterand Fresnel lens are used in combination;

FIG. 36 is a view illustrating one embodiment of an optical system usedin the information recording and reproducing apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 37, 38 and 39 illustrate optical systems used in the informationrecording and reproducing of the present invention;

FIG. 40 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention using aphotomultiplier;

FIGS. 41(a) to 41(c) illustrate a cassette used for the informationrecording and reproducing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 42 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the structure of aninformation recording and reproducing apparatus of the presentinvention, having the cassette in FIGS. 41(a) to 41(c) incorporated init;

FIG. 43 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of the cassetteused for electrostatic recording;

FIGS. 44(a) to 44(b) are diagrammatic views illustrating anotherembodiment of a disc type cassette for electrostatic recording;

FIG. 45 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of the informationrecording and reproducing apparatus according to the present inventionincorporating the cassette, in FIGS. 44(a) to 44(b), in it;

FIG. 46 is an illustration of an information recording and reproducingapparatus according to the present invention having an aural informationinput function;

FIG. 47 is a diagrammatic illustration of another embodiment of thepresent invention utilizing pulse code modulation;

FIGS. 48(a) and 48(b) illustrate another embodiment of the presentinvention which records voice for a predetermined period of time;

FIG. 49 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 50(a) and 50(b) illustrate another embodiment of the presentinvention using a liquid or a gas as an insulating material;

FIGS. 51(a) to 51(c) illustrate an information recording and reproducingmethod of the present invention for erasing a latent image;

FIGS. 52(a) and 52(c) illustrate another embodiment of the presentinvention for erasing a latent image by uniform exposure;

FIG. 53 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention in whichlatent image erasure is carried out by uniform charging by coronadischarging;

FIG. 54 is an illustration of how to erase a latent image by infraredheating according to the present invention;

FIG. 55 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention in which latent image erasing is performed by resistanceheating by applying voltage across the electrode of the informationcarrying medium;

FIG. 56 is an illustration of how to erase a latent image by microwaveheating;

FIG. 57 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention, in which a latent image is erased by a thermal head;

FIG. 58 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention in which a latent image is erased by irradiating ultravioletlight;

FIG. 59 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention in which a latent image is erased by leaking charges with apower collector;

FIG. 60 is an illustration of another embodiment of the presentinvention in which a latent image is erased by spraying steam;

FIG. 61 is an illustration of an information recording and reproducingapparatus using an information carrying medium of the present invention;

FIG. 62 is an illustration of a scanner system using an informationcarrying medium of the present invention;

FIGS. 63 and 64 are views illustrating how to record a color pictureimage;

FIG. 65 is a graph showing a characteristic of image potential versusexposure of the information carrying medium of the present invention;

FIG. 66 is an illustration of an original being rotated a predeterminedangle according to the present invention;

FIG. 67 is an illustration of how to trim a desired picture from anoriginal;

FIG. 68 is an illustration of the trimming operation of an original inthe present invention;

FIGS. 69(a)-(c) are views illustrating a sharpness processing in thepresent invention;

FIGS. 70(a) and 70(b) are views showing another embodiment of thepresent invention for protecting a printing original;

FIG. 71 is a view illustrating data of an information carrying mediumaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 72 is a view showing a deposition method used in the presentinvention;

FIG. 73 is a view showing the whole structure of a color scanner used inthe present invention;

FIG. 74 is a graph illustrating a set up point of the scanner;

FIG. 75 is a view showing the process of the scanner;

FIGS. 76(a) to 76(c) are views illustrating screen dots;

FIGS. 77(a) to 77(c) are views illustrating how to form screen dots inthe present invention;

FIG. 78 is a view showing how to record and reproduce informationaccording to the present invention for reproducing an original;

FIG. 79 is a view showing an original having an insulating patternformed on an electrode substrate according to the present invention;

FIG. 80 is a view showing an original in which a conductive pattern isformed by passing conductive members through an insulating member:

FIGS. 81 and 82 are views showing how to fabricate an original, used inthe present invention, with grooves formed in the conductive member;

FIG. 83 is a view showing an original of the present invention, in whicha memory photosensitive member is formed on an electrode substrate, andin which a pattern is then formed by exposure;

FIG. 84 is a view illustrating another embodiment of the presentinvention, in which reproduction is continuously performed by using aninsulating film as the information carrying medium;

FIG. 85 is a view illustrating another embodiment of the presentinvention in which a toner image formed on the insulating film in FIG.84 is transferred;

FIG. 86 is an illustration of how to impose light on the informationcarrying medium of the present invention;

FIG. 87 is a view of another embodiment of the present invention, usingan information carrying medium in the shape of paper;

FIG. 88 is a view of another embodiment of the present invention, inwhich planar exposure is carried out;

FIGS. 89(a) and 89(b) are views of another embodiment of the presentinvention, in which a magnetic brush developer is arranged in oppositionto the photosensitive member;

FIGS. 90(a) and 90(b) are views of another embodiment of the presentinvention, in which the magnetic brush developer is arranged in the sameside as the photosensitive member in relation to the informationcarrying medium;

FIGS. 91 and 92 are views of another embodiment of the presentinvention, in which the information recording and reproducing apparatusis used for electrostatic copying;

FIG. 93 is a view illustrating how to form toner images according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 94 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention,in which color composition is carried out on an information carryingmedium of which electrostatic latent images, separated in RGB three facesections, has been toner developed;

FIG. 95 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention,in which a transparent image of a toner image is obtained;

FIG. 96 is a view illustrating how to obtain a reflected image of atoner image according to the present invention;

FIGS. 97(a), 97(b), 98, 99(a) and 99(b) are views showing card likerecording mediums of the present invention;

FIG. 100 is a view of another embodiment of the card like recordingmedium of the present invention, in which a high density chargeaccumulation is performed in a region;

FIGS. 101 and 102 are views of other embodiments of the card likerecording medium according to the present invention;

FIGS. 103, 104, 105, 106(a) and 106(b) are views of other embodiments ofthe card like recording medium of the present invention, in whichelectrostatic storing and other storing of information are combined;

FIG. 107 is a view showing a system issuing card like recording mediums;

FIG. 108 is a view showing a label for preventing forging;

FIG. 109 is a view illustrating a modified label in FIG. 108 forpreventing forging with an adhesive layer provided on the rear facethereof;

FIG. 110 is a view showing how the label for preventing forging isattached;

FIG. 111 is a view illustrating how to fabricate a-Si:H photosensitivemember of the present invention; and

FIG. 112 is a view illustrating how to take a picture by an informationaccumulating unit according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

How to record information according to the information recording andreproducing method of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1, inwhich reference numeral 1 designates a photosensitive member, 3 aninformation carrying medium, 5 a photoconductive layer backing member, 7an electrode, 9 a photoconductive layer, 11 an insulation layer, 13 anelectrode, 15 an insulation layer backing member and 17 a power source.

In the mode of the invention in FIGS. 1(a) to 1(h), exposure isperformed from the side of the photosensitive member 1, which comprisesa photoconductive layer backing member 5 made of 1 mm thick glass, atransparent photosensitive electrode 7 of 1000 Å thick ITO(indium-tin-oxide) coated on the photoconductive layer backing member 5,and an about 10 μm thick photoconductive layer 9 disposed on theelectrode 7. Spaced from the photosensitive member 1 with a gap of about10 μm is an information carrying medium 3 which includes an insulationlayer backing member 15 made of a 1 mm thick glass, a 1000 Å thick Alelectrode 13 vapor deposited on the backing member 15, and a 10 μm apartfrom insulating layer 11 coated on the electrode 13. The informationcarrying medium 3 is spaced about 10 μm apart from the photosensitivemember 1 as shown in FIG. 1(a). A voltage from the D.C. power source 17is applied across the electrodes 7 and 13 as in FIG. 1(b). In thisstate, no change occurs between the electrodes in a dark place since thephotoconductive layer 9 is a high resistant material. When thephotosensitive member 1 is exposed to light, portions of thephotoconductive layer 9, to which the light is applied, becomeconductive, and hence discharging occurs between the layer 9 and theinsulation layer 11 to thereby store charges in the insulation layer 11.

After the exposure, the voltage is removed by turning the switch off asshown in FIG. 1(c). Then, an electrostatic latent image is obtained bytaking out the information carrying medium 3 as in FIG. 1(d).

It is to be noted that the photosensitive member 1 and the informationcarrying medium 3 may be arranged in contact with each other, in whichcase positive or negative charges are injected from the photosensitiveelectrode 7 into the exposed portions of the photoconductive layer 9.These charges are attracted by the electrode 13 of the informationcarrying medium 3 and are transferred through the photoconductive layer9 to the surface of the insulation layer 11 where the charge transfer isstopped to store the injected charges. Then, the photosensitive member 1and the information carrying medium 3 are separated with charges storedin the insulation layer 11.

When the mode of recording in FIGS. 1(a)-(d) is applied to planar analogrecording, a high resolution is obtained as in silver salt photographyand surface charges on the insulation layer 11 can be stored for afairly long period without discharging in a light place or dark placedue to excellent insulation properties of the atmosphere although theyare exposed to the latter.

The time of holding charges on the insulation layer 11 depends on thephysical nature of the layer, specifically the charge trappingcharacteristic thereof, other than the insulation of the air. Injectedcharges may be stored on the surface of the insulation layer 11 and maybe microscopically migrated into the inside of the insulation layer nearthe surface thereof, in which inside electrons and holes are trapped.Thus, injected charges can be stored for a fairly long period of time.To store the information carrying medium 3, the insulation layer 11 maybe covered with an insulation film or the like material for preventingphysical damage of the information carrying medium and discharging incase of high humidity.

Materials used for the photosensitive member and the informationcarrying medium according to the present invention will be explainedbelow.

There is no specific limitation of the material and thickness of thephotoconductive layer backing member 5 although it must have a rigiditysufficient to support the photosensitive member 1 and for a case inwhich information is recorded by applying rays of light from the side ofthe photosensitive member 1, it must be transparent to the light. Usemay be made of a flexible plastic film, metallic foil, paper, glass,plastic sheet, metallic plate (which may serve as an electrode) or thelike rigid body. When the apparatus is used as a camera in which naturallight is incident on the photosensitive member, about 1 mm thicktransparent glass plate or plastic film or sheet is used for thephotoconductive layer backing member 5.

The electrode 7 is formed on the photoconductive electrode backingmember 5 except that the latter is made of a metal. The electrode 7 hasno specific limitation in material if its specific resistance is 10⁶Ω.cm or less and may be an inorganic metallic conductive film, inorganicmetallic oxide conductive film or the like film. Such an electrode 7 isformed on the photoconductive layer backing member 5 by vapordeposition, sputtering, CVD, coating, plating, dipping, electrolyticpolymerization or similar processes. The thickness of the electrode 7depends on the electrical characteristic of the material thereof andvoltage applied in recording of information. Specifically, the electrode7 when made of aluminum may have a thickness of about 100-3000 Å. Whenthe photosensitive member electrode 7 is exposed to rays of light aswell as the photoconductive layer backing member 5, it must have opticalcharacteristics as described in connection with the backing member 5.Specifically, for visible light (400-700 nm) as the information light,the photosensitive member electrode 7 may be a transparent electrode,translucent electrode or transparent organic electrode. The transparentelectrode may be formed by sputtering or vapor depositing ITO (In₂ O₃-SnO₂, SnO₂) or the like compound or by coating a mixture of a finepowder of such a material and a binder. The semitransparent electrodemay be produced by vapor depositing or sputtering Au, Pt, Al, Ag, Ni, Cror the like material. The transparent organic electrode may be formed bycoating tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), polyacetylene or the likesubstance.

Also, for infrared light (having a wave length longer than 700 nm) asthe information light, the electrode materials above named may be usedin the present invention. A colored visible light absorbing electrodemay be used as the photosensitive member electrode 7 for cutting offvisible light.

The electrode materials above named may be generally used forultraviolet light, having a wave length 400 nm or shorter, as theinformation light, but it is not preferable to use materials, such as anorganic polymer, soda glass or the like material, which absorbultraviolet light. It is preferable to use a material, such as silicaglass, which allows ultraviolet light to pass through.

When exposed to light, the exposed portion of the photo conductive layer9 generates photocarriers (electrons and holes) which move thicknesswisethrough it. This effect is large particularly when an electric fieldexists. The photoconductive layer 9 may be made of the following organicphotoconductive materials, inorganic photoconductive materials andorganic-inorganic composite photoconductive materials.

(A) Inorganic photoconductive or photosensitive material

As an inorganic photosensitive material, use may be made of amorphoussilicon, amorphous selenium, cadmium sulfide, zinc oxide or the likesubstance.

(i) amorphous silicon photosensitive member

An amorphous silicon photosensitive member may include (1) amorphoussilicon hydride (a-Si:H) and (2) amorphous silicon fluoride (a-Si:F).

These materials may be doped with no impurity, doped with B, Al, Ga, In,T1 or the like element to be a p-type (or hole carrier type), or dopedwith P, Ag, Sb, Bi or the like element to be a n-type (or electroncarrier type).

The photosensitive or photoconductive layer may be formed in such amanner that silane gas and an impurity gas are introduced into a lowvacuum atmosphere (10⁻² -1 Torr) together with hydrogen gas, and thendeposited by a glow discharge on an electrode substrate, heated or notheated, to form a film. They may be formed by thermochemically reactingsuch gases on a heated electrode substrate. Alternatively, thephotosensitive layer may be formed in a single film layer or laminatedfilm layers by vapor depositing or sputtering a solid material thereof.The thickness of the photosensitive layer may be 1 to 50 μm.

A charge injection barrier layer may be provided on the surface of thephotosensitive member electrode 7 for preventing the layer 9 from beingcharged due to injection of charges from the transparent electrode 7when the layer 9 is not subjected to light. It is preferable to form byglow discharging, vapor deposition or sputtering, an insulation layer,such as a-SiN, a-SiC, SiO₂ or Al₂ O₃ layer, as such a charge injectionbarrier layer on at least one of the electrode substrate or theuppermost layer (surface layer) of the photosensitive member. If theinsulation layer has an excessive thickness, it does not allow currentto flow when exposed, and hence the thickness should be 1000 Å orsmaller. Preferably, the thickness is about 400-500 Å for ease offabrication.

It is preferable to provide a charge carrier layer, as a chargeinjection barrier layer, on the electrode substrate, the charge carrierlayer having a charge carrier capacity of a polarity opposite to thepolarity of the electrode substrate, using a rectification effect. Ahole carrier layer and an electron carrier layer may be provided for theelectrode of negative and positive polarities, respectively. Forexample, silicon doped with boron, a-Si:H (n⁺) provides a rectificationeffect with improved carrier characteristic of holes and a layer made ofsuch a material serves as a charge injection barrier layer.

(ii) amorphous selenium photosensitive material includes (1) amorphousselenium (a-Se), (2) amorphous selenium tellurium (a-Se-Te), (3)amorphous arsenic selenium compound (a-As₂ Se₃), and (4) amorphousarsenic selenium compound ⁺ Te.

A photoconductive layer of these compounds may be formed by vapordeposition or sputtering and the charge injection barrier layer, such asSiO₂, Al₂ O₃, SiC and SiN layer may be formed on the electrode substrateby vapor depositing, sputtering and glow discharging. Thephotoconductive layer may include laminated layers of compounds (1)-(4).The photoconductive member layer may be equal in thickness to theamorphous silicon photoconductive member.

(iii) cadmium sulfide (CdS)

The photoconductive layer of this photosensitive material may be formedby coating, vapor depositing and sputtering. In the case of vapordeposition, a solid particle of CdS, placed on a tungsten board, isvapor deposited by resistance heating or by electron beam (EB) vapordepositing. In sputtering, CdS is deposited on a substrate in anatmosphere of argon plasma. In this case, CdS is usually deposited in anamorphous state but a crystalline oriented film oriented thicknesswiseis obtained by selecting sputtering conditions. In coating, CdSparticles with grain size 1 to 100 μm may be dispersed into a binder toform a mixture, which is dissolved into a solvent and then coated over asubstrate.

(iv) zinc oxide (ZnO)

The photoconductive or photosensitive layer may be formed by coating orchemical vapor deposition (CVD) of this material. For coating, ZnSparticles having particle size 1 to 100 μm are dispersed into a binderto prepare a mixture, which is dissolved into a solvent and then coatedon a substrate. According to CVD, an organic metal, such as diethylzincand dimethylzinc, and oxygen gas are mixed in a low vacuum (10⁻² -1Torr) and then chemically reacted with each other on a heated electrodesubstrate (150°-400° C.) to deposit on it as a zinc oxide film, which isoriented thicknesswise.

(B) Organic photoconductive or photosensitive layer

The organic photoconductive or photosensitive layer may be a singlelayer photosensitive layer or a function separation photosensitivemember.

(i) Monolayer photosensitive member

Monolayer photosensitive layer may include a mixture of a chargegenerating substance and a charge transfer substance.

Charge generating substance

The charge generating substance is a substance which easily generatescharges and may, according to the present invention, include, forexample, an azo pigment, bis-azo pigment, tris-azo pigment,phthalocyanine pigment, pyrylium salt dye, porylene dye and methyne dye.

Charge transfer substance

The charge transfer substance has an excellent charge transfercharacteristic and may include a hydrazone, pyrazoline,polyvinylcarbazole, carbazole, stylbene, anthracene, naphthalene,tridiphenylmethane, azine, amine and aromatic amine.

A complex may be formed by the charge generating substance and thecharge transfer substance to use as a charge transfer complex.

Generally, a photosensitive layer has a photosensitive characteristicwhich depends on the light absorption characteristic of the chargegenerating substance, but a complex, made by mixing the chargegenerating substance and the charge transfer substance, changes, inphotoabsorption characteristic. For example, polyvinylcarbazole (PVK) issensitive in the ultraviolet region, trinitrofluorenone (TNF) near thewave length of 400 nm and PVK-TNF complex in the 650 nm wave lengthregion. The thickness of such a single layer photosensitive layer ispreferably 10-50 μm.

(ii) Function separation photosensitive member

Charge generating substances have a nature to easily absorb light andtrap charges while charge transfer substances are excellent in chargetransfer but have a poor photoabsorption characteristic. For thesereasons, the function separation photosensitive member separates thesesubstances to fully exhibit their characteristics and has a chargegenerating layer and charge carrier layer laminated to each other.

Charge generating layer

Substances which constitute the charge generating layer may include,according to the present invention, azo, tris-azo, phthalocyanine, acidxanthene dye, cyanine, styril pigment, pyrylium, perylene, roethine,a-Se, a-Si, azolenium salt and squalium salt.

Charge transfer layer

Substances which constitute the charge transfer layer may according tothe present invention contain, for example, a hydrazone, pyrazoline,PVK, carbazole, oxazole, triazole, aromatic amine, amine,triphenylmethane and polycyclic aromatic compound.

To fabricate the function separation photosensitive member, a chargegenerating substance is applied over the electrode together with abinder resin to form a charge generation layer, and then a chargecarrier material, dissolved into a solvent with a binder resin isapplied over the charge generation layer to form a charge carrier layer.The charge generation layer and the charge layer are preferably 0.1-10μm and 10-50 μm in thickness, respectively.

Both the single layer photosensitive member and the function separationphotosensitive member may, according to the present invention, includeas the binder, for example, a silicone resin styrene-butadienecopolymer. The binder may be added at an amount of 0.1-10 parts byweight per 1 part by weight of each of the charge generation substanceand the charge transfer substance. Coating of the photosensitive layermay include dipping, vapor deposition, sputtering or the likeprocessing.

The charge injection barrier layer is formed on at least one of oppositefaces of the photoconductive layer 9 so as to prevent dark current(charge injection from the electrode), that is, a phenomenon of chargesin the photosensitive layer as if the layer were exposed to rays oflight when voltage is applied across it.

Current hardly flows to the photoconductive layer or the surface of theinsulation layer in the presence of the charge injection barrier layerby application of voltage. However, upon exposure to light, portions ofthe charge injection barrier layer which correspond to the exposedportions of the photoconductive layer are subjected to high electricfield since charges (electrons or holes) generated from thephotoconductive layer occur. Thus, current flows through the chargeinjection barrier layer. Such a charge injection barrier layer mayinclude an inorganic insulative film, organic insulative polymer film,insulative monomolecular film, and a laminated film of these monolayers.The inorganic insulative layer may be formed by glow discharging, vapordepositing or sputtering of, for example, As₂ O₃, B₂ O₃, Bi₂ O₃, CdS,CaO, CeO₂, Cr₂ O₃, CoO, GeO₂, HfO₂, Fe₂ O₃, La₂ O₃, MgO, MnO₂, Nd₂ O₃,Nb₂ O₅, PbO, Sb₂ O₃, SiO₂, SeO₂, Ta₂ O₅ TiO₂, WO₃, V₂ O₅, Y₂ O₅, Y₂ O₃,ZrO₂, BaTiO₃, Al₂ O₃, Bi₂ TiO₅, CaO-SrO, CaO-Y₂ O₃, Cr-SiO, LiTaO₃,PbTiO₃, PbZrO₃, ZrO₂ -Co, ZrO₂ -SiO₂, AlN, BN, NbN, Si₃ N₄, TaN, TiN,VN, ZrN, SiC, TiC, WC and Al₄ C₃. The thickness of the inorganicinsulative layer depends on the material thereof in view of insulationto prevent injection of charges. The charge injection barrier layer,using the rectification effect, is provided with a charge carrier layerwhich is capable of transporting charges of polarity opposite to thepolarity of the electrode substrate by the rectification effect. Such acharge injection barrier layer may include an inorganic photoconductivelayer, organic photoconductive layer and organic-inorganic compositephotoconductive layer and the thickness thereof may be 0.1-10 μm.Specifically, when the electrode is negative, there may be provided anamorphous silicon photoconductor layer, doped with B, Al, Ga, In or thelike element or an organic photoconductive layer formed by dispersinginto a resin an amorphous selenium, oxadiazole, pyrazoline,polyvinylcarbazole, stylbene, anthracene, naphthalene,tridiphenylmethane, triphenylmethane, azine, amine and aromatic amine.When the electrode is positive, an amorphous silicon photoconductor,doped with P, As, Sb, Bi or the like element, or a ZnO photoconductivelayer may be formed. Such layers may be formed by glow discharging,vapor deposition, sputtering, CVD, coating or the like processing.

Materials of the information carrying medium and how to fabricate theinformation carrying medium will be described below.

The information carrying medium 3 used together with the photosensitivemember 1 for recording information as a distribution of electrostaticcharges on the surface or the inside of the insulation layer 11 which isa component of the information carrying medium 3, and thus theinformation carrying medium itself is used an a recording medium. Thecharge carrying medium may have various shapes according to informationto be recorded or how to record information. For example, when thepresent invention is applied to an electrostatic camera, which isdisclosed in a copending Japanese patent application filed on the sameday as the subject application, the information carrying medium may bein the shape of a usual film (single frame or continuous frame) or adisc. For recording digital information or analog information by laser,it may have a tape shape, disc shape or a card shape. The insulationlayer backing member 15 serves to reinforce the information carryingmedium 3. The backing member 15 may be generally made of the samematerial as the photoconductive layer backing member 5 and may berequired to have light transmissibility. Specifically, as the backingmember, a flexible plastic film is used for the information carryingmedium 3 made of a flexible film, tape or a disc. When rigidity isrequired, an inorganic material, such as a rigid sheet and glass, isused as the backing member.

The information carrying medium 3 in the shape of a flexible film, tapeand disc will be described below. FIG. 1(e) illustrates a preferred modeof the medium of which resin layer 11 is continuous. The medium has abacking member 15, provided with an electrode layer, and a resin layer11 coated over the upper face of the backing member to expose oppositelateral peripheries thereof as shown, or coated over the whole surfaceof the upper face. The information carrying medium has a length twice ormore as great as that of one picture, that is, that of one frame of afilm of a camera or the track width of a digital information recordingmedium. A plurality of the information carrying medium may belongitudinally jointed together. In this cane, there may be a small slitor gap between two adjacent resin layers 11.

FIG. 1(f) shows an information carrying medium of which resin layer 11is longitudinally discontinuous. This resin layer 11 is formed on abacking layer, such as a plastic film, discontinuously in thelongitudinal direction to uncover the opposite lateral peripheries ofthe backing layer as shown or to cover the whole surface thereof. Theresin layer 11 consists of a plurality of sections alignedlongitudinally. Although the size of each section depends on theexposure method of an input device of a picture or other type ofinformation, it should be 36 mm×24 mm for a 35 mm camera or be equal tothe track width of digital information recording for spot input such aslaser beam. The resin lacking portions or the slits 12, formed betweenadjacent resin sections, may be used as tracking bands in input andoutput of information for digital information recording. The presentinvention may use a plurality of the information carrying medium of thistype longitudinally jointed together, in which case a resin lackingportion or a slit may be formed between resin layers of two adjacentmediums.

The resin layer 11 may be discontinuous widthwise as illustrated in FIG.1(g), in which the resin layer is formed transversely discontinuously onthe backing member 15, made of a plastic film or the like material andhaving an electrode layer (not shown) formed thereon. The resin layer 11is coated over the backing layer 15 to uncover the opposite lateralperipheries thereof as shown or to cover the whole surface thereof. Theresin layer 11 includes a plurality, three in this modification, ofresin strips. The width of each strip may be equal to or an integertimes as large as the track width of digital information to be recorded.A resin lacking portion or gap 12 formed between two adjacent strips maybe used as a tracking band for input and output of information.

FIG. 1(h) illustrates a disc shaped information carrying medium, whichis fabricated by providing a special resin layer 11 on one face of abacking member 15 having an electrode (not shown) formed on it. Theresin layer 11 may be provided to cover the whole upper face of thebacking member 15, and may have a circular central opening for drive byan input and output unit. The spiral resin lacking portion or spiralgroove 12 may be utilized as a tracking band for digital informationrecording.

The information carrying medium electrode 13 (not shown) may begenerally of the same material as the photosensitive member electrode 7above described and is formed on the insulation layer backing member 15in the same process as in the photosensitive member electrode 7.

The insulation layer 11 records information as a distribution ofelectrostatic charges on the surface or in the inside thereof, and it isrequired to have a high insulation, say 10¹⁴ Ω·cm or more in specificresistance, for suppressing movement of charges. Such an insulationlayer 11 may be formed by dissolving a resin or a rubber into a solventand subsequently by coating, dipping, vapor depositing or sputtering ofthe backing member 15, having the electrode 13, with the dissolvedresin.

The resin material of the insulation layer 11 may include, according tothe present invention, a polyethylene, polypropylene, vinyl resin,styrol resin, acryl resin, nylon 66, nylon 6, polycarbonate,acetal-homopolymer, fluorine resin, cellulose resin, phenol resin, urearesin, polyester resin, epoxy resin, flexible epoxy resin, melamineresin, silicon resin, phenoxy resin, aromatic polyimide, PPO, andpolysulfone. The rubber may include, for example, polyisoprene,polybutadiene, polychloroprene, isobutyrene, nitrile rubber, polyacrylrubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, ethylene-propylene rubber,fluorine-contained rubber, silicone rubber, polysulfide syntheticrubber, urethane rubber and a mixture thereof.

The insulation layer 11 may be formed by sticking one of the followingfilms on the information carrying medium electrode 13 through anadhesive or the like material: a silicone film, polyester film,polyimide film, fluorine-contained film, polyethylene film,polypropylene film, polyparabanic acid film, polycarbonate film andpolyamide film. Alternatively, the insulation layer 11 may be formed bycoating the electrode 13 with or by dipping it in a plastic material,such as a thermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin, electron beamsetting resin and rubber, the plastic material having a curing agent,solvent or the like necessary material added to it for the processing.

As the insulation layer 11, use may be made of a mono layer or built-uplayers formed by Langmuir-Blodgett's technique.

A charge retaining layer may be provided between the insulation layer 11and the electrode 13 or on the outer face of the insulation layer 11.The charge retaining layer is a layer into which charges are injectedwhen a strong electric field (10⁴ V/cm or larger) is applied to it whilecharges are not injected in a low electric field (less than 10⁴ V/cm).

As the charge retaining layer, use may be according to the presentinvention, for example, of SiO₂, Al₂ O₃, SiC and SiN. An organic film,such as a vapor-deposited polyethylene film and vapor-depositedpolyparaxylylene film, may be used for the charge retaining layer of thepresent invention.

It is according to the present invention preferable to add an electrondonative material (electron donor) or electron acceptive material(electron acceptor) to the insulation layer 11 for holding electrostaticcharges more steadily. The donor material may include, for example, astyrene, pyrene, naphthalene, anthracene, pyridine and amine compound.Specifically, use may be made of tetrathiofulvalene, polyvinyl-pyridine,polyvinyl-naphthalene, polyvinyl-anthracene, polyazine, polyvinylpyrene,polystyrene, and mixtures thereof. The acceptor material may include ahalide, cyanide, nitrocompound and the like compound. Specifically,tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), trinitrofluorenone and their mixturesmay be used as the acceptor material. The donor material and theacceptor material may be added at about 0.001-10% of the resin of theinsulating layer 11. Fine particles may be according to the presentinvention added to the information carrying medium for steadily holdingcharges. They may be a finely divided powder an element of the followinggroups in the periodic table: IA group (alkaline metals), IB group(copper group), IIA group (alkaline earth metals), IIB group (zincgroup), IIIA group (aluminum group), IIIB group (rare earth metals), IVBgroup (titanium group), VB group (vanadium group), VIB group (chromiumgroup), VIIB group (manganese group), VIII group (iron group andplatinum group), IVA group (carbon group), VA group (nitrogen group) andVIA group (oxygen group). The IVA group contains carbon, silicon,germanium, tin and lead, VA group antimony and bismuth, and VIA groupsulfur, selenium and tellurium. A finely divided powder of theabove-named elements may be also used for steadily holding charges.Metal elements of the above-named substances may be used in the form ofmetallic ion, finely divided alloy, organic metal and complex. They maybe used also in the form of an oxide, phosphate, sulfonated compoundsand halogenated compounds. These additives may be added in a traceamount to the information carrying medium made of the above-resins andrubbers. They may be added in an amount of about 0.01-10% by weight ofthe information carrying medium. The insulating layer 11 must have athickness 1000 Å (0.1 μm) or larger in view of insulation and preferablyhas a thickness 100 μm or smaller when flexibility is required.

The insulation layer 11 thus formed may be provided on its one face witha protecting film for preventing damage or discharging of informationcharges on the one face. As the protecting film, a film of adhesiverubber, such as silicone rubber, or a film of a resin, such as apolyterpene resin may be stuck to the surface of the insulating layer11. Also, a plastic film may be stuck to the insulating layer 11 bymeans of an adhesive material such as a silicone oil. Preferably, theprotecting film has a specific resistance of 10¹⁴ Ω·cm or more and athickness of about 0.5-30 μm. A thinner protecting film is preferablefor a higher resolution of information of the insulating layer 11.Information in the insulation layer 11 may be reproduced over theprotecting layer, or reproduction may be performed in a condition thatthe protecting layer is separated from the insulation layer.

To hold electrostatic charges, an electret may be used other than theso-called free charge holding method in which surface charges are storedas described above.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the electrostatic charges holding methodusing a photoelectret, in which the same reference characters as in FIG.1 designate corresponding parts. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 19indicates a transparent electrode.

As shown in FIG. 2(a), an electrode 13 is disposed on the support member15 such as film, and a layer of ZnS, CdS and ZnO of 1-5 μm is formed onthe electrode plate by vacuum evaporation, sputtering, CVD, coatingmethod, etc. Further, a transparent electrode 19 is placed upon thesurface of this photosensitive layer on a contact or non-contact basis.When this is exposed to light under voltage application (FIG. 2(b)), anelectric charge is generated on the exposed portion by light, andpolarization is caused by the electric field. Electric charge is trappedand remains at the same position even when the electric field is removed(FIG. 2(c)). Thus, the electret corresponding to the exposure value isobtained. The information carrying medium in FIG. 2 is advantageousbecause it does not require a separate photosensitive member.

FIG. 3 shows a method used to carry an electrostatic charge using athermal electret with the same reference numbers as in FIG. 1.

The materials of a thermal electret consist, for example, ofpolyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), poly (VDF/ethylene trifluoride), poly(VDF/ethylene tetrafluoride), polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidenechloride, polyacrylonitrile, poly-α-chloroacrylonitrile,poly(acrylonitrile/vinyl chloride), polyamide 11, polyamide 3,poly-m-phenylene-isophthalamide, polycarbonate, poly (vinylidene cyanidevinyl acetate), PVDF/PZT complex, etc., and this is provided on theelectrode plate 13 in a single layer of 1-50 μm or two types or more ofthe materials may be laminated.

Before being exposed to light, the medium is heated above the glasstransition point of the above-mentioned medium material by resistanceheating or the like, and it is exposed to light under voltageapplication in that status (FIG. 3(b)). Ionic mobility is high at hightemperature. A high voltage electric field is applied in the insulatedlayer of the exposed portion. Of the thermally activated ions, negativeelectric charges gather at the positive electrode and positive chargesat the negative electrode to form the space charge, resulting inpolarization. When the medium is cooled down thereafter, the generatedelectric charge is trapped at the same position even if the electricfield is removed, and the electret corresponding to the exposure valueis generated (FIG. 3(c)).

Next, as a method to input the information to the insulating layer 11,there is the method to record by a high resolution electrostatic cameraor a method to record by laser. The high-resolution electrostatic cameraaccording to the present invention comprises a recording unit, whichconsists of a photosensitive member 1 made of a photoconductive layer 9having an electrode 7 on its front instead of photographic film used onthe ordinary camera and of an information carrying medium made of aninsulating layer 11 having an electrode 13 on the rear side. Whenvoltage is applied to both electrodes an electric charge is accumulatedon the insulating layer in accordance with the quantity of incidentlight through the photoconductive layer, and an electrostatic latentimage of the incident optical image is formed on the informationcarrying medium. Both mechanical shutter and electric shutter can beused on this camera, and it is possible to maintain the electrostaticlatent image for a long period regardless of whether it is stored inlight or dark places. Also, a color filter is used, by which it ispossible to separate the optical information into R, G and B componentsthrough prisms and to take them out as parallel rays. Photographing incolor is achievable by forming a frame from 3 sets of the informationcarrying medium separated into R, G and B components or by aligning R, Gand B images on one plane and by forming a frame from one set.

In the recording method by laser, an argon laser (514, 488 nm),helium-neon laser (633 nm) or semiconductor laser (780 nm, 810 nm, etc.)are used as a light source. The photosensitive member and theinformation carrying medium closely fit with each other on theirsurfaces or they are placed in face-to-face position separated by aconstant distance, and voltage is applied. In this case, it ispreferable to set the electrode of the photosensitive member with thesame polarity as that of the carrier of the photosensitive member. Undersuch conditions, laser exposure corresponding to an image signal,character signal, code signal and line signal is performed by scanning.An analog image such as a picture image is recorded by modulating theintensity of the laser beam, whereas a digital image such as a linedrawing is recorded by on-off control of a laser beam. The imageconsisting of dots is formed by on-off control of a dot generator on thelaser beam. It is not necessary that the spectral characteristics of thephotoconductive layer in the photosensitive member be panchromatic, andit will suffice if it has sensitivity suitable for the wavelength of thelaser source.

Next, description is given on the data memory in the form of other thanan electric charge.

FIG. 4 is a drawing to explain the information recording and reproducingmethod based on the present invention using photoconductive particles.In this figure, 1 refers to a photosensitive member, 5 a support member,7 an electrode, 9 a photoconductive layer, 3 an information carryingmedium, 21 a thermoplastic insulating layer, 13 an electrode, 15 asupport member, 23 a particle layer, 25 a photomultiplier, and 27 alaser beam.

In FIG. 4(a), when image exposure is performed by applying voltagebetween two electrodes of photosensitive member 1 and informationcarrier medium 3, electric charge is accumulated on the exposed portionon the information carrier medium. As shown in FIG. 4(b), a carrier isgenerated in the particles by total exposure of the information carryingmedium, and an electric charge with a polarity opposite to that of thesurface accumulated charge neutralizes the surface charge. As theresult, an electric charge with the same polarity as the surfaceaccumulated charge remains within or on the particles or at the vicinityof the particles.

As the particles to store electric charge, the electrically conductivematerials may be used in addition to photoconductive materials. Themethod to accumulate electric charge in this case will be describedlater.

As the material for the photoconductive particles, inorganicphotoconductive materials are used such as amorphous silicon,crystalline silicon, amorphous selenium, crystalline selenium, cadmiumsulfide, zinc oxide, etc. or organic photoconductive materials such aspolyvinylcarbazole, phthalocyanine, azo pigment, etc.

As the electrically conductive materials, the following materials areused: IA group of periodic table (alkali metals), IB group (coppergroup), II A group (alkali earth metals), II B group (zinc group), III Agroup (aluminum group), III B group (rare earth metals), IV B group(titanium group), V B group (vanadium group), VI B group (chromiumgroup), VII B group (manganese group), VIII group (iron group andplatinum group), or carbon, silicon, germanium, tin or lead as IV Agroup (carbon group), and antimony or bismuth as V A group (nitrogengroup), and sulfur, selenium and tellurium as V IA group (oxygen group).These materials are used in the form of fine powder. Of the elements asdescribed above, metals can be used as metallic ions, alloy fine powder,organic metals or in the form of a complex. Further, the elements asdescribed above can be used in the form of an oxide, a phosphate,sulfonated compounds and halogenated compounds. Especially, carbon,gold, copper, aluminum, etc. are preferred.

The charge accumulation method when electrically conductive particlesare used is explained in conjunction with FIG. 5. In this figure, thereference numbers refer to the same elements as in FIG. 4, and the onlydifference is that particles 23 are electrically conductive.

In FIG. 5(a), when image exposure is performed by applying voltagebetween two electrodes of the photosensitive member body 1 and theinformation carrying medium 3, electric charge is accumulated in theexposed portion on the surface of the information carrying medium. Onthe other hand, since a great number of electrons and positive chargesare present within the electrically conductive particles, the electriccharge is accumulated on the surface and the surface charge isneutralized by an electric charge of opposite polarity in the conductiveparticles. As the result, an electric charge having the same polarity asthat of the surface accumulated charge remains within or on theparticles or at the vicinity of the particles.

Next, the method to form the particle layer is described.

First, to laminate particle layers near the surface of the resin layersin a single layer or in multiple layers, low pressure vacuum evaporationapparatus is used. Thus, the materials to form the particle layers aredeposited by evaporation on the resin layers, which are piled up on thecarrier and are in the unhardened, molten or softened conditions. Whenvaporized under low pressure of about 10 Torr -10⁻³ Torr, the materialsto form particle layers are aggregated and are turned to the ultrafineparticles with diameter of 10-0.1 μm. For example, if the resin layer ismaintained in the heated and softened conditions during evaporation, theparticles are laminated near the interior of the resin layer surface ina single layer or in multiple layers. If the resin layer consists ofthermoplastic resin, the resin layer is softened by heating theelectrode layer through resistance heating, or the resin layer issoftened by direct heating of the base plate by a heater. If the resinlayer consists of thermosetting resin, ultraviolet setting resin orelectron beam setting resin, the particle layer forming materials areevaporated in the unhardened conditions and they are hardened by anappropriate hardening means after the particle layer is formed.

As another means to form the particle layer near the surface of theresin layer, the particle layers are deposited by evaporation in asingle layer or in multiple layers by the same method on the carrier, inwhich said resin layer is formed and hardened on the electrode plate inadvance. In this case, a particle layer is formed on the surface of theresin layer. Then, another layer of the same resin used for theformation of said resin layer or a layer of a different insulating resinis laminated within the thickness range of 0.1 μm-30 μm. As thelaminating methods, there are dry methods to directly form the resinlayers by vacuum evaporation or sputtering or wet methods to use asolution, in which the resin is dissolved by solvents. After the film isformed by spinner coating, dipping, blade coating, etc., the solvent isdried up. To ensure uniform particle size in the formation of theparticle layer, it is suggested to maintain the base plate at atemperature so as not to melt the resin layer.

Under the conditions where an electric charge is introduced to theparticles, an electric charge with opposite polarity to that of theelectric charge accumulated to the particles is induced at the electrode13, and an electric field is generated in the insulating layer by theelectric charge in the particles and the electric charge induced at theelectrode. When the information carrying medium is heated under suchconditions, the insulating layer is softened if temperature is increasedto above the softening point, and the particles having electric chargein them are pulled by the electric field and are dispersed in theinsulating layer.

On the other hand, the particles in the unexposed portion remain at thesame positions because there is no electric field even when theinsulating layer is softened. Thus, when the information carrying mediumis cooled down, the particles in the exposed portion are fixed in thedispersed conditions. As the insulating layers, thermoplastic resins,nay be used such as polyethylene, vinyl chloride resin, polypropylene,styrene resin, ABS resin, polyvinyl alcohol, acryl resin,acrylonitrile-styrene resin, vinylidene chloride resin, AAS (ASA) resin,AES resin, cellulose derivative resin, thermoplastic polyurethane,polyvinyl butyral, poly-4-methylpentene-1, polybutene-1, rosin esterresin, etc.

As shown in FIG. 4(d), when a laser beam is irradiated toward theinformation carrying medium and is received by photomultiplier 25 on theopposite side, the laser beam transmits through the dispersed region,while it does not transmit through the unexposed portion where theparticles form two-dimensional layers, and the transmission light is notdetected. Thus, the pattern of the particle dispersion can be identifiedby laser scanning. A reflection of the electrode is detected in theexposed portion by the reflecting light, and not by transmission light,whereas the reflection light is not detected in the unexposed portionbecause the incoming light is absorbed by the particles. This againmakes it possible to identify the pattern.

Because the surface of the unexposed portion is not frosted as in theconventional type, there is no influence by irregular reflection orcaused by scattering, and this makes it possible to read at higheraccuracy.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which irregularities are formed on thesurface of the information carrying medium for data accumulation.

In this embodiment, electric charge is accumulated in a pattern by lightexposure under voltage application on the insulating layer 21,consisting of thermoplastic resin as shown in FIG. 6(a), and theinformation carrying medium 3 is then heated. Because an electric chargewith the opposite polarity from that of the surface charge is induced onthe electrode 13 corresponding to the charge accumulated portion, anelectric field is generated inside layer 21 and the electric charge ispulled toward the electric field. As the result, irregularities as shownin FIG. 6(b) are formed on the surface of the resin plasticized byheating. When the information carrying medium is cooled down, theseirregularities are fixed and are recorded as information. When light isirradiated, irregular reflection occurs from these irregularities andthe patterns of the irregularities are read by transmission light orreflection light for the purpose of reproducing the information. Theelectric charges on the surface tend to leak during a subsequent heatingprocess, and most of them disappear.

FIG. 7 represents an embodiment of the information recording andreproducing apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure,3 is an information carrying medium, 41 a means to measure electrostaticpotential, 43 an A/D converter, 45 a control processing unit withbuilt-in CPU, 47 a scan driving means, and 49 a display unit.

In the information carrying medium, an electrostatic latent image isrecorded by the method as described for FIGS. 1-3. The electrostaticpotential measuring means 41 reads the potential at an arbitrary pointon the information carrying medium 3 as signals by various methods suchas a contact or a non-contact method, or a DC amplifier method, ACamplifier method, power collecting type, electron beam type, CT scantype, etc., and issues them as analog signals. When detected, the analogpotential signals are converted to digital signals by A/D converter 8 tosuit the processing by the control processing equipment 45 consisting ofa microcomputer and the like. Digital signals thus converted are takenup as the data at the arbitrary point measured on the informationcarrying medium 3. After the data at a point on the information carryingmedium 3 is taken in, the scan driving means 47 consisting of X and Ystages is driven by the control processing equipment 45 to drive andscan the information carrying medium 3, and the data on each portion ofthe information carrying medium 3 are collected. It is naturally allowedto drive and scan the probe of the electrostatic potential measuringmeans.

Also, it is possible, for example, to scan the information carryingmedium on a two-dimensional basis by primary scan driving of theinformation carrying medium and by secondary scan driving of theelectrostatic potential measuring means.

The electrostatic latent image data thus read are further processed bythe control processing equipment 45 as necessary and are displayed onthe display unit 49. It is naturally allowed to print out the data byconnecting the printer as necessary.

FIG. 9 gives the results of the measurement of the potentialdistribution at Y=8 mm when the image shown in FIG. 8 is formed withinthe area of X=15 mm and Y=15 mm. It is evident from FIG. 9 that thepotential distribution of 100 V min. and 163 V max. is detected.

FIG. 10 gives an example, in which the potential on the informationcarrying medium 3 with the image as shown in FIG. 8 is scanned and readand the stereo image is displayed by the image processing.

In this way, an electrostatic latent image can be taken as data, and thedata can be turned to images of various shape by data processing. Sincethese are taken as data, it is possible to minimize noise by integratingthe data or to display the image by partially modifying the data, or toutilize the data for the recording on other recording medium whennecessary. Further, it is possible to select and output any region atany time or to reproduce it repeatedly.

In order to take the data recorded on the electronic informationcarrying medium on a two-dimensional basis as data, it is necessary tomove the probe of the measuring unit or the information carrying mediumto scan.

As the scanning methods, there are: (1) the method to use a steppingmotor, in which a scan is stopped after it is moved to the measuringposition and the potential is measured, and it is then moved to the nextposition; (2) the method, in which the data are moved at constant speedand measurement is repeated at a predetermined constant timing so thatthe obtained data and the measuring position match each other.

The method (1) provides accurate position control but it isdisadvantageous is that the scanning time is too long. To shorten thedata collecting time, it is desirable to use the method (2), in whichthe movement is scanned at constant speed.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the potential reading method for theinformation recording and reproducing apparatus according to the presentinvention, and the reference numbers represent the same elements as inFIG. 1. In this figure, 51 refers to a potential reading unit, 53 adetection electrode, 55 a guard electrode, 57 a condenser, and 59 avoltmeter.

When the potential reading unit 51 is placed face-to-face to the chargeaccumulated surface of the information carrying medium 3, the electricfield generated by the electric charge accumulated on the insulatinglayer 11 of the information carrying medium 3 exerts action on thedetection electrode 53, and the electric charge equivalent to the chargeon the information carrying medium is induced on the surface of thedetection electrode. Since the condenser 57 is charged with the electriccharge equivalent to but having the polarity opposite to the inducedcharge, a potential difference is generated between the electrodes ofthe condenser. By reading this value on voltmeter 59, the potential onthe information carrying medium can be obtained. By scanning the surfaceof the information carrying medium with the potential reading unit 51,an electrostatic latent image can be outputted as an electric signal.When only the detection electrode 53 is used, the resolution may bereduced by the action of an electric field (electric lines of force) byan electric charge in a wider range than the region opposite to thedetection electrode of the information carrying medium. Thus, the guardelectrode 55 grounded on the surrounding of the detection electrode maybe allocated. Then, the electric lines of force will be directed to thedirection perpendicular to the surface, and electric lines of force ofonly the region facing toward the detection electrode 53 will exertaction. This makes it possible to read the potential at the region withapproximately the same area as that of the detection electrode. Becausethe accuracy and resolution of the potential reading greatly differaccording to the shape, size of the detection electrode and the guardelectrode and to the distance from the information carrying medium, itis essential to design the potential reading unit with optimalconditions to suit the specified performance characteristics.

FIG. 12 gives another example of the potential reading method. It is thesame as the example of FIG. 11, except that the detection electrode andguard electrode are provided on the insulating protective film 61 andthat the potential is detected through this insulating protective film.

By this method, it is possible to keep the distance from the detectionelectrode at a constant level because detection can be made in directcontact with the information carrying medium.

FIG. 13 shows a further example of the potential reading method, bywhich the potential is detected by bringing the needle electrode 63 indirect contact with the information carrying medium. By this method,high resolution can be attained because the detection area is minimized.If two or more needle electrodes are provided for detection, the readingspeed can be increased.

The methods described above relate to the DC amplifier type to detect aDC signal on a contact or non-contact basis. In the following, theexamples of an AC amplifier type will be described.

FIG. 14 shows the potential reading method of an oscillating electrodetype, in which 52 represents a detection electrode, 54 an amplifier and56 a metering instrument.

The detection electrode 52 is oscillating and is driven in such mannerthat the distance is changed over time in relation to the chargedsurface of the information carrying medium 3. As the result, thepotential at the detection electrode 52 is changed over time with anamplitude corresponding to the electrostatic potential of the chargedsurface. This change of the potential over time is taken out as avoltage change at both ends of impedance Z, and the AC component isamplified by the amplifier 54 through the condenser C. By reading thisvalue on the metering instrument 56, electrostatic potential on thecharged surface can be determined.

FIG. 15 gives an example of a rotary type detector, and 58 refers to arotary vane.

An electrically conductive rotary vane 58 is furnished between theelectrode 52 and the charged surface of the information carrying medium3 and is rotated and driven by a driving means not shown. As the result,the space between the detection electrode 52 and the informationcarrying medium 3 is electrically shielded at periodic intervals.Accordingly, a potential signal with a periodically changing amplitudecorresponding to the electrostatic potential of the charged surface isdetected, and the AC components are amplified by the amplifier 54 andare read.

FIG. 16 shows an oscillating capacitative type detector, in which 58represents a driving circuit, and 60 an oscillating piece.

The oscillating piece 60 of an electrode forming the condenser isoscillated by the driving circuit 58, and the condenser capacity ischanged. As the result, a DC potential signal detected by the detectionelectrode 52 is modulated, and its AC component is amplified anddetected. This detector can convert DC to AC and can measure thepotential with high sensitivity and stability.

FIG. 17 gives another example of the potential reading method, in whicha long and thin detection electrode is used and the potential isdetected by CT technique (computed tomography).

When the detection electrode 65 is allocated to traverse the chargeaccumulated surface, the obtained data are the value determined by lineintegral along the detection electrode, i.e. the data corresponding tothe projected data by CT can be obtained. Thus, scanning is performedover the total surface of the detection electrode as shown in FIG. 17(b) by arrows, and necessary data can be collected by scanning withdifferent angle θ. By processing the collected data through a CTalgorithm, the potential distribution on the information carrying mediumcan be obtained.

If two or more detection electrodes are disposed as shown in FIG. 18,the data collecting speed can be increased and this facilitates theprocessing speed as a whole.

FIG. 19 indicates a power collecting type detector, and 62 refers to agrounded type metal cylinder, 64 an insulator, and 66 a power collector.

Radioactive substance is incorporated in the power collector 66, andα-rays are radiated from there. In the metallic cylinder, the air isionized and positive and negative pair of ions are generated. These ionsdisappear through re-binding and diffusion in the natural conditions,keeping an equilibrium state, whereas, if an electric field exists, theymove toward the direction of the electric field, repeating the collisionwith the molecules of the air by thermal movement, and they play therole of carrying an electric charge.

Specifically, the air is made to electrically conductive by ions, and itis regarded that an equivalent electric resistance pathway is presentbetween the objects in the surrounding including the power collector 66.

Therefore, supposing that the resistances between the charged surface ofthe information carrying medium 3 and the grounded metal cylinder 62,between the charged body and power collector 66, and between powercollector 66 and the grounded metal cylinder 62 are R₀, R₁ and R₂respectively, and that the potential of the charged member is V1, thepotential V2 of the power collector 66 is as shown below in the steadystate:

    V.sub.2 =R.sub.2 V.sub.1 /(R.sub.1 +R.sub.2)

Therefore, by reading the potential of the power collector 66, thepotential of the information carrying medium 3 can be obtained.

FIG. 20 shows an example of a potential reading unit of the electronbeam type, and 67 represents an electronic gun, 68 the electron beam, 69a first dynode, and 70 a secondary electron multiplier.

The electrons issued from the electronic gun 67 are deflected by anelectrostatic deflection or electromagnetic deflection unit (not shown)and scan the charged surface. A part of the scanning electron beam isbonded together with the electric charge on the charged surface, and acharging current flows. This decreases the potential of the chargedsurface to an equilibrium potential. The remaining modulated electronicbeams return to the direction of the electronic gun 67 and collide withthe first dynode 69. Its secondary electrons are amplified by thesecondary electron multiplier 70 and are taken out as the signal outputfrom the anode. The reflected electrons or the secondary electrons areused as the returning electron beam.

In case of an electron beam type, a uniform electric charge is generatedon the medium after scanning, whereas a current corresponding to alatent image is detected during scanning. If the latent image has anegative charge, there are few accumulated charges by electrons and thecharging current is low in the portion with a high electric charge(exposed portion), while maximum charging current flows in the portionwithout an electric charge. If the latent image has a positive charge,the reverse occurs.

FIG. 21 shows another example of a potential reading method. Theinformation carrying medium 3, where the electrostatic latent image isformed, is processed by toner development, and the colored surface isscanned by optical beam. The reflected light is then converted toelectric signals by photoelectric converter 71. By reducing the diameterof the optical beam, high resolution can be attained, and theelectrostatic potential can be detected in an optically easier manner.

FIG. 22 shows one more example of the potential reading method. Theimages of R, G and B separated by a fine color filter as described laterare processed by toner development, and the colored surface isirradiated by optical beam. Thus, Y, M and C signals are obtained by thereflected light. In the figure, 83 represents a scanning signalgenerator, 85 a laser, 87 a reflection mirror, 89 a half mirror, 71 aphotoelectric converter, and 93, 95 and 97 indicate gate circuits.

Laser beam from the laser 85 is directed by the scanning signal from thescanning signal generator 83 through the reflection mirror 87 and thehalf mirror 89 to the colored surface for scanning. The reflected lightfrom the colored surface enters the photoelectric converter 71 throughhalf mirror 89 and is converted to an electric signal. If the openingand closing of the gate circuits 93, 95 and 97 are controlledsynchronously with the signals from the scanning signal generator 83,the opening and closing of gate circuits 93, 95 and 97 are controlledsynchronously with the pattern of the fine filter. Accordingly, thesignals for Y, M and C can be obtained without the need for coloring Y,M and C.

In case the color image is divided into 3 planes as described later, thesignals for Y, M and C can be obtained in exactly the same manner, andthere is also no need to color Y, M and C in this case.

In the electrostatic potential detection method as given in FIGS. 21 and22, it is preferable that the toner image has 7 characteristics matchingthe charged value of the electrostatic latent image and that there is nothreshold to the analog change of the charged value. However, 7 may becorrected by electric processing even when 7 characteristics do notcoincide if necessary measure is available.

In the information recording and reproducing process according to thepresent invention, the information read from the information carryingmedium can be outputted by various types of printers.

FIGS. 23-25 show the example, in which the optically read color image isoutputted to a sublimation transfer printer. In the figure, 101 refersto a laser, 103a a reflection mirror, 103b and 103c dichroic mirrors,105 a reflection mirror, 107 a scanning system, 109 a reflection mirror,111 a half mirror, 113a and 113b dichroic mirrors, 113c a reflectionmirror, 115 a photoelectric converter, 117 a memory, 119 an imageprocessing unit, 121 a complementary color converter, 123 adeserializer, 125 a driver, 127 a head, 129 a platen roller and 131 theimage receiving paper.

The light beams R, G and B from the laser 101 are unified into one beamthrough the reflection mirror 103a and dichroic mirrors 103b and 103cand scan the information carrying medium 3 through the reflection mirror105, the scanning system 107, the reflection mirror 109 and the halfmirror 111. On the information carrying medium 3, for example, thecolor-separated images of R, G and B formed by the fine color filter areprocessed by toner development and colored. The scanning system 107consists of the galvano-mirrors 107a and 107b, which scan in X and Ydirections. Thus, the reflected light obtained by the scanning of theinformation carrying medium is separated to R, G and B and is convertedto an electric signal by the photoelectric converter 115a, b, c and isstored in the memory 117. Picture element density conversion, colorcorrection, tone correction, etc. are performed by the image processingunit 119 as necessary, and they are converted to color signals of Y, Mand C by the complementary color converter 121 for printing purpose. Thesignals are further converted to serial signals for each line by thedeserializer 123 and are provided to the driver 125. Thermal head 127 isdriven and controlled at a duty ratio corresponding to the color signalsof Y, M and C, and the signals are transferred from thermosensibletransfer film 130 to the image receiving sheet 131.

When necessary, a BK (black) signal may be generated in addition to Y, Mand C at the same time with the complementary color conversion. In thiscase, the dynamic range on the shadow side of the hard copy can bewidened by using black thermosensible transfer film in thethermosensible transfer recording and by recording in four colors.

FIG. 24 indicates a transfer mechanism from transfer film to the imagereceiving sheet.

The transfer film consists of a heat-resistant sliding layer 130a, atransfer base material 130b and a sublimation transfer layer 130c, eachof which is laminated with a primer therebetween in order to ensurebetter adhesion of the coated material to the base. As theheat-resistant sliding layer 130a, a mixture of polyvinylbutyral,polyisocyanate and phosphate ester is used. As the transfer basematerial 130b, polyethylene phthalate, polyimide, etc. are used. Thermaldye transfer layer 130c consists of sublimable dyes such as indoaniline,pyrazolone, azo groups, etc. and binders such as polyvinylacetal,cellulose groups, etc.

The image receiving sheet 131 consists of an image receiving layer 131b,an image receiving sheet base material 131a and a backside layer 131c,each of which is laminated with a primer therebetween. The imagereceiving layer 131b is made of saturated polyester, vinyl chloride,etc., and the base material 131a is made of synthetic paper, foampolyester, foam polypropylene, etc., and the backside layer consists ofbinder, lubricant and coating agent, etc.

The image receiving sheet 131 consisting of an image receiving layer131b and an image receiving base material 131a is wound around theplaten roller 129, and the transfer film 130 is laminated closely on it.By attaching the thermal head 133 on the backside of the transfer film130 and by heating it, the sublimable dye is heated and transferred andthis sticks to the image receiving layer 131b and dyes it. In the aboveexample, the signals read from the information carrying medium aretreated by digital image processing. Because the dye is transferred tothe image receiving layer in the thermal dye transfer unit, the tonegradation corresponding to the heat quantity for each picture elementdot can be recorded. Accordingly, there is no need to perform mesh pointprocessing on data outputted from the information carrying medium withanalog recording, and the data can be directly printed out. In this way,the thermal dye transfer printer can process and express the gradationof the image signal of the information carrying medium with highresolution analog recording by each dot, and this is most suitable forthe purpose of the present invention.

The latent image on the information carrying medium can be recorded at aresolution according to the size of the electric charge and hence athigh accuracy. In contrast, the reading method has not reached yet highaccuracy at present. However, an image with the gradation of 2⁸ for 1μm×1 μm is obtained at present. This corresponds to a memory capacity of100 MBytes on the information carrying medium of 1 cm×1 cm, and 2 piecesof color printing image data in A4 size can be stored in memory. In theabove example, the information carrying medium processed by tonerdevelopment is read optically, but it goes without saying that the imagepotential on the information carrying medium can also be electricallyread out.

FIG. 25 gives the pattern of thermal dye transfer film, in which thedyes of C, M and Y are coated one after another on the surfaces. Whenthese are wound on a drum and the drum is rotated, the image receivingsheet coated with the image receiving layer is printed with one color ateach rotation of the drum, and if black color (Bk) is taken intoaccount, it is printed in four colors.

Further, the melting type thermosensible transfer film may be used forthe information recording and reproducing processing according to thisinvention.

In the melting type thermosensible transfer, ordinary paper 145 is setbetween the rubber roll 141 and the transfer film 147 as shown in FIG.26. When transfer film is heated in accordance with the image data bythermal head 143, the melting transfer layer (wax) coated on thetransfer base film 147b is molten if the heat quantity is higher than apredetermined value and is transferred on the ordinary paper 145. If itis lower than the predetermined value, it is not transferred and isrecorded in binary value for each picture element dot. Therefore, unlikethe case of sublimation transfer, the gradation is expressed by theratio of the number of dots constituting one picture element to thenumber of the recorded dots.

In addition to this, an ink jet printer may be used, by which the ink isinjected in fine drops and ink dots are attached on the recording paperin a pattern matching each image.

This is also applicable for a micro-capsule system. In this system, amicro-capsule in the order of a μm, in which a monomer, leuco dye andreaction initiator are sealed, is coated thinly over the paper, andultraviolet light or visible light is irradiated. When the receptorcoated with acid clay is piled up, the microcapsule is not smashed ifthe irradiated light quantity is higher than the predetermined value andthe polymerization of monomer is advanced, whereas the micro-capsulewith lesser light irradiation is smashed, and leuco dye comes out of thecapsule and sticks to acid clay, thus dyeing the latter. In this case,if micro-capsules in R, G and B colors are used and if such leuco dye isused that it is complementary to the color of the capsule, the monomerin the capsule of R is not polymerized and it is hence not smashed.Therefore, C does not come out of the capsule, while the capsules of Gand B are smashed, and the dyes of M and Y come out and are mixed to dyein R. Accordingly, the color image can be obtained if suchmicro-capsules are used.

Further, the system is naturally applicable for an output system forsilver salt photographic film, toner development (to be described indetail later) and thermosensible transfer printer.

Also, the display unit is not limited to a CRT, and the reproduction anddisplay can be performed by liquid crystal display, electrochromicdisplay, projector, light emitting diode display, electroluminescencedisplay, plasma display, etc.

In a following, the method to correct the image potential of theinformation carrying medium is described.

FIG. 27 shows an embodiment having a luminous light exposed portion(maximum exposed portion) and an unexposed portion on the surface of theinformation carrying medium.

The luminous light portion 151 is formed by the method as shown in FIG.29.

In FIG. 29(a), a part of the electrode 7 of the photosensitive member 1is bent and is exposed on the surface of the photoconductive layerdisposed face-to-face to the information carrying medium duringexposure. In so doing, a strong electric field is applied on theinformation carrying medium, and an electric charge is accumulated onthe information carrying medium so that maximum potential can beobtained. As shown in FIG. 29(b), a part of the electrode is thickenedand is exposed on the surface of the photoconductive layer, and the sameeffect as in (a) can be obtained.

FIG. 29(c) represents a luminous light portion, which is formed byirradiating the irradiating light source 155 from the side of thephotosensitive member.

The unexposed portion is formed by the procedure as shown in FIG. 30.

In FIG. 30(a), a light-shutting portion 157 is shown, which is formed onthe surface of the electrode carrier. In FIG. 30(b), a part of thetransparent electrode is formed with Al to make it not transparent sothat light does not pass through. FIG. 30(c) shows a part of thephotoconductive layer, on which a cutaway part 161 of thephotoconductive layer is formed so that a carrier is not generated evenwhen irradiated by light.

In this non-photoconductive portion, the carrier injection from theelectrode occurs in the same degree as the photoconductive layer in adark condition. The transport characteristics of the injected carrieroccurs in the same degree as the photoconductive layer in a darkcondition, and any material can be used if it is non-photoconductive tothe wavelength of the light to which it is exposed. That is, anymaterial can be used, which exerts the same action as thephotoconductive layer in an unexposed status when exposed to light.

As the examples of such materials, PVK/TNF may be used as aphotoconductive layer and PVK as a non-photoconductive portion. Or, inthe function-separated type photosensitive member, in which the chargegenerating layer and the charge transport layer are piled upon eachother, a portion not containing the charge generating material can beprovided on a part of the charge generating layer, and this can be usedas a non-photoconductive portion. Also, it is possible to use insulatingmacromolecular materials with the adjusted resistance value.

Supposing that, when the luminous light portion and the unexposedportion are formed, the potentials on these portions are A and Brespectively as shown in FIG. 28, the potential of the portion where theimage is recorded assumes the value somewhere therebetween. If the imagepotential is decreased by the change over time, the potentials at theluminous light portion and the unexposed portion are similarlyattenuated. Accordingly, if the potentials on the luminous light portionand the unexposed portion are measured in advance, the potential of theexposed portion can be easily obtained by correction.

The above description is given on an example, which is provided withboth the luminous light portion and the unexposed portion, but thepresence of only one of them will suffice.

FIG. 31 shows an embodiment of the information recording and reproducingapparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, the samereference numbers refer to the same elements in FIG. 1: 171 represents aphotographing lens, 173 a mirror, 175 a focusing screen, 177 apentagonal prism, 179 an ocular lens, and 181 a negative image.

The processing apparatus according to the present invention uses thephotosensitive member 1 and the information carrying medium 3 as shownin FIGS. 1-3 (In the case of the information carrying medium of FIG. 2,no photosensitive member is required.) instead of the film forsingle-lens reflex camera. By turning the power source 17 on or off by aswitch (not shown), the mirror 173 is moved up to the position indicatedby dotted line, and an electrostatic latent image of the object isformed on the information carrying medium 3. In this case, the exposuremay be performed without a mechanical shutter because the photosensitivemember itself optically plays the role of a shutter. When necessary, thenegative image 181 can be obtained if the information carrying medium isprocessed by toner development. Also, it is possible to read theelectrostatic potential and to output it as electric signal, to displayit on a CRT or to transfer it on recording means such as magnetic tape.

Also, color photographing is achievable using a color filter.

FIG. 32 shows a color separation optical system by prism. In the figure,191, 193 and 195 refers to the prism blocks, 197, 199 and 201 thefilters, and 203 and 205 the mirrors.

The color separation optical system consists of 3 prism blocks. Theoptical information coming from the surface "a" of the prism block 191is partially separated and reflected on the surface "b". Further, it isreflected on the surface "a", and B color component is taken out fromthe filter 197. The remaining optical information enters the prism block193, advances to the surface "c" and is partially separated andreflected. The other advances straightforward and G color component andR color component are taken out through the filters 199 and 201respectively. When G and B color components are reflected by the mirrors203 and 205, the light beams R, G and B can be obtained as parallelrays.

When such a filter 211 is placed in front of the photosensitive member 1as shown in FIG. 33(a) and information is photographed, it is possibleto form a frame by 3 sets of the information carrying medium separatedto R, G and B as shown in FIG. 33(b) or to form a frame by lining up theimages of R, G and B on the same plane as shown in FIG. 33(c).

In FIG. 34, an example of a fine color filter 213 is illustrated. Forinstance, it is formed by the following methods: The method to form R, Gand B strip patterns by exposing a film coated with resist to the lightin a masked pattern and to dye in R, G and B colors; The method togenerate interference fringes of R, G and B by passing thecolor-separated lights as shown in FIG. 32 through narrow slit and torecord them on the hologram recording medium; The method to expose thephotoconductive body closely fitted with a mask to light, to form R, Gand B stripe patterns by electrostatic latent image and to form tonerstripes by color synthesis through 3 times of transfer after tonerdevelopment. One picture element is formed from one set of R, G and B ofthe filter, and, for instance, one picture element is made as fine asabout 10 μm. By using this filter as the filter 211 of FIG. 33, a colorelectrostatic latent image can be formed. In this case, the filter canbe separated from the photosensitive member or it may be incorporated init.

FIG. 35 gives an example, in which a fine color filter 213 and Fresnellens 215 are combined together. By use of a Fresnel lens, it is possibleto reduce R, G and B patterns in size and to record them. Compared withan ordinary lens, a thin and compact lens can be designed for easiermounting on the equipment.

The equipment of FIG. 31 is provided with a recording unit, consistingof a photosensitive member 1 having photoconductive layer furnished witha transparent electrode on the front instead of photographic film asused in an ordinary camera and of an information carrying medium 3facing toward the photosensitive member and having the insulating layerfurnished with an electrode on the backside. When voltage is applied onboth electrodes, an electric charge is accumulated on the insulatinglayer according to the incoming light quantity, and an electrostaticlatent image of the incident optical image is formed on the informationcarrying medium. A mechanical optical shutter may naturally be provided,but it may not be provided, and the electrostatic latent image can bemaintained for long period regardless of whether it is stored in dark orlight places.

FIG. 36 is a drawing to explain the optical system to be used for theinformation recording and reproducing apparatus based on the presentinvention. In this figure, 221 refers to an object, 223 a first opticalsystem, 225 a color filter, 227 a second optical system, and 1 aphotosensitive member.

In FIG. 36, a color filter 225 and a secondary optical system 227 areplaced in front of the photosensitive member 1, and the image of thecolor filter 225 is formed near the transparent electrode 7 of thephotosensitive member. First, the image of the object 221 is formed onthe color filter 225 by the first optical system 223. Then, the image ofthe color filter 225 is formed on the transparent electrode 7, or morestrictly, on the photoconductive layer by the secondary optical system227. By exposing the image to light, the photoconductive layer 9 showsthe electrically conductive pattern corresponding to the image formed onthe color filter 225, and an electrostatic latent image is recorded onthe information carrying medium (not shown) corresponding to thepattern. As the result, image blur or color fade can be prevented.

FIG. 37 gives another embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the secondary optical system 227 is composed of acolumnar lens array, the so-called SELFOC lens 231, in which therefractive index is changed to parabolic as it goes from a central axistoward an outer periphery, and this SELFOC lens is laid on thephotosensitive member 1. Further, the color filter 225 is layered with atransparent spacer of predetermined thickness, for example, a glass baseplate 233.

Such system composition makes it possible to form the image of the colorfilter 225 near the transparent electrode 7 and to obtain anelectrostatic latent image of high resolution without color fade.

In this SELFOC lens 231, the object surface 241 and the image surface243 are disposed at symmetrical positions to the lens 231 as shown inFIG. 38 and this constitutes a lens system with a magnification factor1.

As shown in FIG. 37, the image of the color filter 225 can be formed onthe transparent electrode 7 by making the thickness of glass base plate233 the same as that of the insulating layer 5 and by layering itbetween the color filter and the lens. Accordingly, by forming the imageof the object on the color filter, an image with high resolution andwithout color fade can be attained.

By placing the color filter and the photosensitive member separately,these can be manufactured by separate processes, and this makes itpossible to prevent a decline in accuracy by a shrinkage, expansion ordiscoloring of the expensive color filter by heat.

FIG. 39 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, in which acylindrical lens is used as the secondary optical system 227 of FIG. 36.

A cylindrical lens is a lens system which has power in one direction andno power in the direction perpendicular to it. For instance, the imageof a circular object indicated by 251 is formed as an oval shape 253.Therefore, if such a cylindrical lens is used as the secondary opticalsystem, image recording with variable power can be achieved.

Although not shown in the drawing, a large size image can be recorded bysmall size equipment if a Fresnel lens is used as the secondary opticalsystem. Also, it is possible to enlarge or reduce the image in sizeusing a convex lens, concave mirror, etc., and to record it.

FIG. 40 represents an embodiment of the information recording andreproducing apparatus using a photomultiplier. In the figure, 260 refersto an image intensifier, 261 an object, 263 an objective lens, 265 aphotoelectric surface, 267 an electronic lens, 269 a multi-channel plate(MCP), 271 a fluorescent surface and 273 a switch.

The image intensifier 260 comprises a vacuum tube, which consists of aphotoelectric surface 265 to convert the light to electrons, anelectronic lens 267 to form the image of electrons released from thephotoelectric surface, a MCP 269 to amplify the incoming electrons byseveral thousand times and a fluorescent surface 271 to convert theincident electron image from the MCP to an optical image. On thebackside of the fluorescent surface, a transparent base plate 5 layeredwith a transparent electrode 7 and photoconductive member 9 areattached. Further, the information carrying medium 3 layered with theelectrode 13 and with the insulating layer 11 is placed face-to-face onthe base plate 15 in the photosensitive member 1 with a gap of about 10μm. A battery E is connected between the transparent electrode 7 and theelectrode 13 through a switch 273.

When the image of the object 261 is formed on the photoelectric surface265 through the objective lens 263, electrons are released from thephotoelectric surface in accordance with the incident optical image. Theelectrons thus released are converged by the electronic lens 267 andform an electronic image on the incident surface of MCP269. MCP269 is athin glass plate with diameter of 25 mm and thickness of 0.48 mm and isprovided with a multiple number of small holes, i.e. channels, withdiameter of 12 μm. When electrons come into the channels, electrons arepulled by a potential gradient in the MCP and collide with the innerwalls several dozens of times and go out to the opposite side.

At each collision, the wall surfaces of the channels release secondaryelectrons, and the outputted electrons are multiplied by severalthousands of times compared with the incoming electrons. The MCP isprovided with 1,500,000 channels in total, and each of them correspondsto one picture element. Thus, each picture element is multiplied at thesame time.

The outputted electrons thus multiplied are pulled by the electricfield, collide with the fluorescent surface and emit fluorescent light.This fluorescent light is several thousands of times more luminous thanthe incident light, and enters the photoconductive member 9 through thetransparent baseplate 5 and the transparent electrode 7. As the result,a carrier is generated within the photoconductive member 9, and theexposed portion acquires an electrically conductive property. In the gapbetween the conductive portion and the information carrying medium, astrong electric field is applied and a corona discharge occurs, and anelectric charge corresponding to the incident optical image isaccumulated on the insulating layer 11.

Thus, the electric charge accumulated on the insulating layer ismaintained in a stable manner, and this makes it possible to maintainthe electrostatic latent image in a stable condition for a long period.Also, it is possible to read this electrostatic latent image by variousmethods such as toner development, potential reading or optical readingutilizing an electro-optical effect. Because the image is not formed onthe information carrying medium unless the switch 273 is turned on, theswitch may function as a shutter.

In the embodiment as described above, the transparent electrode and thephotoconductive member are layered upon each other through thetransparent baseplate on the fluorescent surface. Since a thicktransparent baseplate may hinder the high resolution of the image, thismay be omitted. Thus, the transparent electrode may be formed directlyon the fluorescent surface and the photoconductive member may be layeredon it.

A mechanical shutter may be provided on the front surface of thephotoelectric surface instead of providing a voltage shutter by theswitch. Or, the distance between the photosensitive member and theinformation carrying medium may be made variable and may be adjusted toa critical distance, where corona discharge occurs, and the shutterfunction may be provided by changing the distance between thephotosensitive member and the information carrying medium. In the above,a description was given of an embodiment with an image intensifier, butit goes without saying that this may be used in combination with animage converter, which converts the invisible image to visible image inthe wavelength range where incident light is infrared or ultravioletrays.

FIG. 41 shows an embodiment of a cassette for the information datarecording and reproducing apparatus. In the figure, 280 refers to acassette, 281 a window, 282 bar code, 283 a photosensitive member, 285 afilm-like information carrying medium, 287 a film carrier material, 289a feed roll, and 291 a take-up roll.

The cassette 280 consists of an integral case made of plastics, and aflexible film is used as the information carrying medium in the presentembodiment. At the top of the cassette, a window 281 is provided, and aphotosensitive member 283 is fixed in the cassette case. The spacesetting material 287 with a smooth surface establishes a predetermineddistance in relation to the photosensitive member 283, keeping the spacebetween the photosensitive member and the information carrying medium atconstant distance, and it is fixed on the cassette case. In so doing,the spacing between the photosensitive member and the informationcarrying medium can be set at the fabricating accuracy as determined inadvance. The position of the space setting material 287 may be madeadjustable in order to adjust the distance between the photosensitivemember and the information carrying medium. Since the sensitivitydiffers according to the type of the materials of the photosensitivemember, first information such as the material of the photosensitivemember may be displayed as the conductive bar code 282, which can beread, for instance, by a contact furnished on a camera. In directcontact with the smooth surface of the space setting material 287, thefilm-like information carrying medium 285 is fed by the feed roll 289,and it is taken up by the take-up roll 291 when the recording iscompleted. The cassette may be of a disposable type, or only the filmmay be replaceable.

If the material sensitive to X-ray is used as first a photosensitivemember, the equipment can be used for medical application.

In the meantime, the information carrying medium in the embodiment ofFIG. 41 is composed of flexible film, and the electrically conductivelayers are deposited by evaporation in the interior or on a lowersurface. A grounding connection may be furnished through the filmcarrier material 287, and voltage may be applied between the medium andthe photosensitive member 283. When the image is exposed to lightthrough the window 281 under voltage application, an electrostaticlatent image is recorded on the film-like information carrying medium285. In this case, the films used as the photosensitive member and theinformation carrying medium are set in advance in the cassette. Becausethe spacing between these two is already adjusted at the time ofsetting-up and is constant, the users can select a cassette incorporatedwith the desired photosensitive member if the cassette is provided, inwhich the type of the photosensitive member for the desired purpose isset. Thus, it is possible to select a cassette suitable for eachpurpose, i.e. ASA100 and ASA500. In the present embodiment, a window isprovided and recording is performed through it. A separate window forreading purpose may be provided, through which the recorded image can beread by potential reading or optical reading.

FIG. 42 is a schematic drawing of the information recording andreproducing apparatus, in which the cassette of FIG. 41 is incorporated.In the figure, 300 represents the information recording and reproducingapparatus, 301 an objective lens, 303 a diaphragm, 305 a shutter, 307 acontact, and 309 a battery and circuit device.

The information recording and reproducing apparatus 300 can beincorporated in the cassette of FIG. 41. When the cassette is inserted,the contact 307 comes into direct contact with the bar code 282. Thematerial of the photosensitive member incorporated in the cassette isread. At the same time, the voltage applied between the photosensitivemember and the information carrying medium, the shutter speed, aperture,etc. and other photographing data are automatically set by a ROM, whichis incorporated in the circuit device 309. Therefore, the user canperform high resolution photographing by simply turning on the switch(not shown) because the image is exposed at optimal conditions.

FIG. 43 represents a further embodiment of the cassette forelectrostatic recording, in which the same reference numbers indicatethe same elements as in FIG. 41: 311 and 313 refer to spacers, 315 and317 rolls, and 319 and 321 springs.

In the cassette of the present embodiment, the spacers 311 and 313 areprovided on the photosensitive member. The rolls 315 and 317 disposedface-to-face to them are pushed on the spacers by the springs 319 and321. By the rotation of the rolls 315 and 317, film is smoothly fed, andthe spacing between the photosensitive member and the film-likeinformation carrying medium is maintained at a constant distance. In thepresent embodiment, a ground connection may be furnished through therolls.

FIG. 44 shows a cassette for electrostatic disk recording, and FIG. 45represents an information recording and reproducing apparatus, in whichthe cassette of FIG. 44 is incorporated. In the figure, 330 refers to adisk type cassette, 331 a case, 333 a photosensitive member, 335 aninformation carrying medium, 337 a spacer, 339 a window, 341 a hole inthe cassette, 343 a disk hole in the disk, 350 a camera, 351 anobjective lens, 353 a diaphragm, 355 a shutter, 357 a rotating shaft and359 a rotating knob.

In this embodiment, the information carrying medium is designed to be ofa disk type, and a disk is incorporated in the cassette 330. A window339 is provided on the case 331, and the image is recorded through thewindow. A hole 341 is furnished at the center of the case, and a hole343 at the center of the disk. When this cassette is set in the camera350 and the rotating knob 359 is turned by passing the rotating shaft357 through the holes 341 and 343, the disk is rotated and the image canbe recorded on the information carrying medium through the objectivelens 351.

FIG. 46 represents an embodiment of the information recording andreproducing apparatus provided with an audio data input function. In thefigure, 371 refers to a microphone, 372 an amplifier, 373 a laser, 374an acousto-optic modulator, 375 a polygonal mirror, and 376 a powerunit.

A switch 377 is provided between the photosensitive member 1 and theinformation carrying medium 3, and by turning it on or off, thepredetermined voltage is applied from the power unit. By the surfaceexposure of the image information light 370 under the application of thepredetermined voltage, the latent image potential corresponding to theimage is generated on the information carrying medium 3. On the otherhand, the electric signal corresponding to the voice through themicrophone 371 is amplified by the amplifier 372. The laser beam fromthe laser 373 is modulated according to the voice signal byacousto-optic modulator 374. Scanned by the polygonal mirror 375 andirradiated on the photosensitive member 1, the latent image potentialcorresponding to the voice signal is generated on the informationcarrying medium 3. Thus, voice information is also recorded togetherwith the image information on the information carrying medium 3. As aresult, when the image such as a landscape is recorded on theinformation carrying medium, the situations at the time of photographingcan be recorded as an audio signal. Thus, it is possible to obtain thereproduction of the image with a simultaneous explanation.

In the above example, the light is modulated by the combination of anoptical modulator and a polygonal mirror, and scanning and exposure areperformed. Further, an electron beam may be used for scanning by thecombination of a CRT and modified means such as a flying spot scanner(FSS), and the light from the luminescent spot on the CRT may be passedthrough the photosensitive member for scanning and exposure. Or, theinformation carrying medium may be placed near the tube surface of a CRThaving a group of needle electrodes on the tube surface, and directdischarge recording may be performed on the information carrying mediumthrough the needle electrodes, on which the scanning electronic beamhits.

FIG. 47 shows another example of the present invention using PCMmodulation. The reference number represents the same content as in FIG.46. In the case of FIG. 47, a voice signal is converted to a digitalsignal by PCM380, and a voice signal of good quality and highlyresistant to noise can be recorded.

FIGS. 48(a) and 48(b) show a further embodiment according to the presentinvention, in which 381 refers to an A/D converter, 382 a cyclic memory,and 383 a D/A converter.

In this embodiment, a voice signal is converted by the A/D converter andis stored in the cyclic memory, and the output of the cyclic memory 382is converted by the D/A converter and this is recorded. The cyclicmemory is provided with memory capacity to store the voice informationfor a certain period of time, and the content of the memory issequentially updated so that the voice information for a certain periodof time up to now is stored in memory. For example, if the memorycapacity of the cyclic memory is set in such manner that the voiceinformation for one minute can be recorded, the voice information can berecorded from 30 seconds before the photographic time point to 30seconds thereafter. Thus, the situations at the time of photographingcan be reproduced with real feeling. For instance, as shown in FIG.48(b), in photographing a steam locomotive, the puff-puff sound from thelocomotive can be recorded with the photographs of the locomotiveitself, and in reproducing, the watchers can feel the actual scene onthe reproduced images.

FIG. 49 represents an embodiment of the information recording andreproducing apparatus, in which the same reference number indicates thesame content as in FIG. 1. 391 refers to a dielectric substance.

In this embodiment, a dielectric substance 391 is furnished between thephotosensitive member 1 and the information carrying medium 3, and theelectrostatic latent image is formed on the insulating layer 11 throughthe dielectric substance. Because of the presence of this dielectricsubstance 391, dielectric strength is improved, and the supply voltageof the power unit 17 can be increased. Hence, it is possible to applyhigh voltage between the photosensitive member and the informationcarrying medium, and the latent image can be formed on the informationcarrying medium even when there is slight incidence of light. This willstrikingly improve the sensitivity. If sufficiently high voltage isapplied, the carrier generating efficiency when light is applied can bemade closer to 1.

As the dielectric substance, the solid inorganic insulating materialsand solid organic insulating materials as listed below can be used:

(1) Solid insulating materials

(1-1) Solid inorganic insulating materials

(1-1-1) Natural minerals

(1) Mica

(2) Rock crystal

(3) Other minerals and sulphur

(1-1-2) Ceramics and porcelain

(1) Feldspar porcelain

(2) Steatite porcelain

(3) A lumina porcelain

(4) Micalex,

(5) Others,

(1-1-3) Glass,

(1) Soda-lime glass

(2) Boro-silicated glass,

(3) Quartz glass,

(4) Pyrex glass,

(5) Others

(1-2) Solid inorganic insulating materials,

(1-2-1) Paraffin hydrocarbon

(1) Paraffin,

(2) Ceresin

(3) Wax such as microcrystal wax

(4) Others

(1-2-2) Rubber

(1) Natural rubber

(2) Butyl rubber

(3) Chloroprene rubber

(4) Styrene-butadiene rubber

(5) Silicone rubber

(6) Others

(1-2-3) Thermosetting resin

(1) Phenol resin

(2) Diallyl phthalate resin

(3) Unsaturated polyester

(4) Epoxy resin

(5) Silicone resin

(6) Urea resin

(7) Melamine resin

(8) Others

(1-2-4) Thermoplastic resin

(1) Vinyl resin (such as vinyl chloride)

(2) Polyethylene

(3) Polystyrene

(4) Polypropylene

(5) Ionomer resin

(6) ABS resin

(7) Polyvinyl alcohol

(8) Acryl resin

(9) Acrylonitrile-styrene resin

(10) Vinylidene chloride resin

(11) AAS resin

(12) AES resin

(13) Cellulose derivative resin

(14) Thermoplastic polyurethane

(15) Polyvinyl butyral

(16) Poly-4-methylpentene-1

(17) Polybutene-1

(18) Others

(1-2-5) Engineering plastics

(1) Fluorine resin

(2) Polycarbonate

(3) Polyamide

(4) Acetal resin

(5) Polyphenylene oxide

(6) Polybutylene terephthalate

(7) Polyethylene terephthalate

(8) Polyphenylene sulfide

(9) Polyimide resin

(10) Polysulfone and polyethersulfone

(11) Aromatic polyester

(12) Polyallylate

(13) Others

(1-3) Ferroelectrics

(1) Rochelle salt

(2) Deuterium Rochelle salt

(3) Potassium dihydrogenphosphate

(4) Potassium dideuteriumphosphate

(5) Barium titanate

(6) Potassium niobate

(7) Glycine sulfate

(8) Ammonium sulfate

(9) Guanidine-aluminum sulfate hexahydrate

(10) Sodium nitrite

(11) Yellow prussiate of potash

(12) Antimony iodide sulfide

(13) Others

(1-4) Antiferroelectrics

(1) Ammonium dihydrogenphosphate

(2) Lead halnate

(3) Lead zirconate

(4) Sodium niobate

(5) Others

(1-5) Piezoelectric crystal

(1) Ethylenediamine tartarate (EDT)

(2) Potassium tartarate (KDT)

(3) Rock crystal

(4) Selenium

(5) Tellurium

(6) Cadmium sulfide

(7) Cadmium selenide

(8) Zinc oxide

(9) Barium titanate

(10) Zinc sulfide

(11) Ammonium dihydrogenphosphate

(12) Others

(1-6) Others

(1) Natural fiber

(2) Cellulose paper

(3) Papers such as chemically treated paper

(4) Natural fiber such as copal, shellac, etc.

(5) Insulating varnish

In FIG. 50, an embodiment using gas or liquid as the insulating materialis illustrated. In the figure, 393 is a container, 395 a window, and 397an insulating material.

As shown in FIG. 50(a), the insulating material 397 consisting of gas orliquid is sealed in a container 393, and the photosensitive member 1 andthe information carrying medium 3 are disposed in it, and the exposureunder voltage application is performed through a window 395. As the gasinsulating material, the materials as listed below can be used.Dielectric breakdown voltage can be increased if voltage is raised tohigher level.

(2) Gas insulating materials

(1) Nitrogen

(2) Carbon dioxide

(3) Fluorine gas, e.g. sulfur hexafluoride

(4) Carbon fluoride

Instead of gas insulating materials, the liquid insulating materials aslisted below can be used:

(3) Liquid insulating materials

(1) Transformer oil

(2) Circuit breaker oil

(3) Impregnated cable oil

(4) Oil-filled cable oil

(5) Condenser oil

(6) Paraffin hydrocarbon

(7) Natural mineral oil with main components such as naphthanehydrocarbon composed of cyclohexane and its bonding substances

(8) Askarel

(9) Alkylbenzene

(10) Synthetic oil consisting of polybutene and the like

(11) Silicone oil

(12) Others

FIG. 50(b) shows an embodiment, which uses the position ofphotosensitive member or the information carrying medium as the window,and other parts are the same as in FIG. 50(a).

By providing an insulating material between the photosensitive memberand the information carrying medium, spark discharge can be preventedwhen applying high voltage, and carrier generating efficiency atexposure can be made closer to 1 by increasing the voltage. Thus, highsensitivity exposure under voltage application can be achieved.

FIG. 51 shows an embodiment of the information recording and reproducingapparatus.

As shown in FIG. 51(a), a predetermined voltage is applied between thephotosensitive member 1 and the information carrying medium 3 by powerunit 17, and exposure is performed under this condition. Then, anegative electric charge is trapped on the insulating layer 11 of theinformation carrying medium 3, and a latent image is formed. To erasethis latent image, the polarity of the power source 17 is reversed asshown in FIG. 51(b), and exposure is performed in the same exposurepatterns as in FIG. 51(a). The electric charge of the polarity oppositeto that of FIG. 51(a) is recorded on the insulating layer 11 of theinformation carrying medium 3, and the latent image formed by theexposure of FIG. 51(a) is cancelled. Thus, the potential on theinsulating layer 11 is turned to 0, and the latent image is erased.

As shown in FIG. 51(c), when the voltage of the same polarity as that ofexposure in FIG. 51(a) is applied and exposure is performed in a patternreverse to that of FIG. 51(a), a negative electric charge is uniformlyrecorded on the insulating layer 11, and the latent image is erased. Incase of FIG. 51(c), the insulating layer 11 is maintained at thepredetermined constant potential. Accordingly, if exposure is performedby reversing the polarity of supply voltage, recording can be repeated.

FIG. 52 gives a further embodiment of this invention. By performing auniform exposure of the information carrying medium, on which the latentimage is formed, the latent image can be erased.

In FIG. 52(a), an example is illustrated, in which uniform exposure isperformed by applying a voltage of the same polarity as that of theexposure under voltage application. Since the portion with the latentimage is loaded with more charges at the exposure, it is quicklysaturated if exposure is continued. Also, on the portion where a latentimage was not formed, it will be saturated when exposure is continued.By performing exposure for a certain period of time, a saturated voltageis reached on the surface of the insulating layer 11, and the latentimage is erased. If exposure is then performed under this condition byreversing the polarity of the supply voltage, re-writing can beattained.

FIG. 52(b) gives an example, in which uniform exposure is performed byapplying a voltage of a polarity reverse to that of the exposure of FIG.52(a). In this case, the portion not exposed in FIG. 51(a) is firstsaturated with the positive charge. The exposed portion with a latentimage is then saturated, leading to total uniform charging, and thelatent image is erased. In this case, it is possible to achievere-writing by reversing the polarity of the voltage.

In FIG. 52(c), an example of latent image erasing by voltage applicationonly is illustrated. When light is not irradiated, the photosensitivebody has a higher resistance and the erasing speed is slow, while thismethod eliminates uniform lighting. Also, it is possible to increase theerasing speed by employing an electrode instead of a photosensitivemember. In the figure, a voltage with a polarity different from that ofthe recording is applied, whereas it is naturally allowed to apply thevoltage of the same polarity.

FIG. 53 shows an embodiment, in which a latent image is erased byuniform charging through corona discharge.

In this embodiment, for example, AC corona discharge is performed, anduniform charging is performed by a positive or a negative charge on theinsulating layer 11, and the latent image is erased. It is naturallypossible to perform discharge not in AC but in DC.

The methods used to erase the latent image by heating are illustrated inFIGS. 54-57.

FIG. 54 shows a method to erase the latent image by infrared heating. Byirradiating infrared rays on the information carrying medium where alatent image is formed, the insulating layer 11 is heated. As theresult, the conductivity of the insulating layer 11 is increased, andthe charge forming the latent image is leaked, thus erasing the latentimage.

FIG. 55 shows an embodiment, in which electric current is connected tothe electrode of the information carrying medium, and the latent imageis erased by resistance heating. The electrode of the informationcarrying medium consists of a substance having resistance of 10⁶ Ω.cm orlower. Since it is provided with a predetermined resistance, it isheated up when power is connected. Because the information carryingmedium itself is very thin and has small heat capacity, it is heated upwithin a short time. Thus, the charge forming the latent image isleaked, and the latent image is erased.

FIG. 56 shows the erasing of a latent image by microwave heating usingan electrode 400. The insulating layer itself is heated up by dielectricloss of the insulating layer 11. As temperature and conductivity areincreased, the charge is leaked, and the latent image is erased.

FIG. 57 represents an example, in which the surface of the insulatinglayer 11 of the information carrying medium is heated up and the latentimage is erased. When thermal head 401 is heated and the insulatinglayer 11 is heated on a contact or non-contact basis, the charge formingthe latent image is leaked, and the latent image is erased.

In FIG. 58, an embodiment is illustrated in which a latent image iserased by irradiating with ultraviolet rays.

FIG. 58(a) shows the irradiation of ultraviolet light of the samepattern as the exposure pattern, by which a latent image was formed. Byirradiation of ultraviolet rays, a carrier for electrons and holes isgenerated in the insulating layer 11. Because an electric field isgenerated by the electric charge, which forms the latent image, on theportion with the latent image, a carrier of polarity opposite to that ofthe electric charge is pulled and neutralized, and the electric chargewith the opposite polarity goes toward the earth. As the result, theelectric charge forming the latent image is neutralized, and the latentimage is erased.

FIG. 58(b) shows an example, in which ultraviolet rays are uniformlyirradiated on the information carrying medium. Since the electric chargeis neutralized in the same way as disclosed above with respect to FIG.51(a) on the portion with the latent image and no electric field isgenerated on the other portions, the generated carriers are bondedtogether immediately and disappear. Thus, an electric charge is notaccumulated as a whole on the insulating layer 11, and the latent imagecan be erased.

FIG. 59 represents an embodiment in which the electric charge on theinsulating layer 11 is leaked by a power collecting material. In thefigure, 403 is a conductive material having a brush 405. By scanning thesurface of the information carrying medium with brush 405, the electriccharge is leaked away and the latent image can be erased.

FIG. 60 shows an example in which steam is blown on the informationcarrying medium and electric charge is leaked by giving conductivity toit. Through the conductive gas, the electric charge is leaked, and thelatent image can be erased.

As described above, the latent image with high insulating property anddifficult to erase on the information carrying medium can be easily andpositively erased. Therefore, it is possible to repeatedly use theinformation carrying medium.

An example will be given in which an information recording andreproducing apparatus using an information carrying medium according tothe present invention as an external memory unit is applied to printing.

FIG. 61 illustrates one embodiment of an image processing system usingan information carrying medium as a recording medium. In FIG. 61,reference numeral 3 designates an information carrying medium, 411 aread head, 412 an A/D converter, 413 a computer, 415 a magnetic disk,416 a magnetic tape (MT), 417 a D/A converter, 418 a printer, 419 arecording head, 420 a recording cylinder, and 421 a film.

An original is recorded on the information carrying medium 3. The readhead 411 scans the surface of the medium 3 and reads its electricpotential by a scanner which will be described later, thereby reading itinto the computer 413 after an A/D conversion. In this case, there is alarge amount of data and the recording is made on the magnetic disk 415or the magnetic tape 416 so as to read much of the image information.When required, this is read and its image is synthesized underobservation of a monitor which is not illustrated herein. Then, it isput into designated image processing such as color correction,conversion of magnification power, masking, and detail emphasis, andthen exposed to and recorded by the recording head 419 on the film 421which is set on the recording cylinder 420. The image data can beprinted by means of the printer 418 as needed.

In the case above, because the information carrying medium 3 which is acomponent of an input scanner is a flat bed type, the structure can bemade compact and difficult operations such as setting of an original canbe eliminated. When the medium 3 on which analog information is recordedwith a surface exposure is substituted as is for the MT, total time fromreading of an original to exposure and reading can be decreased owing toomission of time required for recording on and reading from the MT.

FIG. 62 illustrates the overall structure of an information recordingand reproducing apparatus using an information carrying medium accordingto the present invention, in which identical reference numerals to thosein FIG. 61 imply identical elements to the same. In FIG. 62, referencenumeral 430 designates a read cylinder, 431 a read head, 432 anoriginal, 441 an optical modulator, and 444 a polygonal mirror.

In the apparatus of FIG. 62, there is employed an information carryingmedium in place of an MT for temporarily storing image data which isread, whereas there is employed a conventional scanner for reading anoriginal and exposure and recording. An image data read into thecomputer 413 is converted by means of the D/A converter into analoginformation. Then, this signal modulates a laser beam emitted from thelaser 441 to irradiate the beam by means of the polygonal mirror 444 ona linear photosensitive member 1, thereby sequentially recording on themedium 3. Now, similar to that in the case of FIG. 61, the recordedinformation is freely read as needed with the electric potential readhead 411 to be put into A/D conversion and fed into the computer for animage processing; thus, an exposure to and a recording on the film 421is made by means of the recording head 419.

According to this system, the apparatus can be made compact, the timerequired for reading and recording can be decreased, and the record canbe preserved permanently, because of employment of an informationcarrying medium as a recording medium for image data.

In the description above, scanning and exposure are made by modulatinglight in a combination of an optical modulator with a polygonal mirror.Besides this, for example as in the case of a flying spot scanner,scanning and exposure may be made by scanning an electric beam with aCRT and a deflection means, and then by scanning and exposing by way ofa photosensitive member with light from the bright spot of the CRTsurface. Also, an information carrying medium may be placed facing andadjacent to the surface of a kind of CRT whose surface comprises a groupof needle electrodes, so that electric discharge and recording may bedirectly made on the medium by way of the needle electrode to which thescanning electric beam is applied. A semiconductor laser can also beused as a laser and, in such a case, the method of directly modulating asemiconductor laser is commonly practiced without using an AOM(Acousto-Optic Modulator) as shown in FIG. 62.

With respect to FIGS. 63 and 64, a method of recording color imageinformation will be described.

In FIG. 63, an original is irradiated either by light source 451 or 452,and reflected light or transmitted light of the irradiated light isexposed by way of a color filter 455 to a photosensitive member 1 forrecording on an information carrying medium 3. The color filter 455comprises three elements R, G, and B. The filter is moved in thehorizontal direction for selecting R, G, or B, where a group consistingof three information carrying media completes recording of one imageinformation.

The structure shown in FIG. 64 is the same as that shown in FIG. 63,except a color filter 456 is a rotating type and thereby the selectionof R, G, or B is achieved.

Now, with respect to FIGS. 65 to 69, notable features of an informationcarrying medium according to the present invention will be described inthe case where it is applied to a scanner system.

The graph in FIG. 65 describes characteristics of the change of imagepotential relative to the quantity of an exposure of an informationcarrying medium according to the present invention, where the quantityof the exposure is set in a free unit and shown in a logarithmic scale.

Normally, in a process scanner the dynamic range required for imagedensity (a logarithmic indication value which is a proportion ofirradiation light to transmitted light) is about 3, which is currentlyrealized by photo multiplier, thereby making it impossible for theprocessing to use a conventional CCD or the like because of its dynamicrange being about 2 at the utmost. Contrary to this, as can beunderstood when the characteristics shown in FIG. 65 is referred to, aninformation carrying medium according to the present invention cansufficiently cope with the dynamic range of about 3 of image density andis suitable for a processing scanner.

FIG. 66 illustrates an original which is rotated a designated angle.Conventionally, when exposure and recording are made by rotating apicture image, an original itself is rotated a designated angle and seton a read cylinder of the drum scanner for reading; but the setting ofthe original on the cylinder by accurately rotating the original thedesignated angle is difficult. Since an information carrying mediumaccording to the present invention is flat, as shown in FIG. 66, themedium 3 can be rotated a designated angle like 3a easily andaccurately, and an image can be rotated easily by reading sequentiallyas shown with arrows in the drawing. Normally, the center of a pictureimage is designated as the center of rotation, but in the example shownin FIG. 66 an angle atx the upper left is designated as the center ofrotation. As for the center of rotation, a picture image processing ismade and a desired rotated picture image can be obtained when therelationship between the rotation of a picture image on an informationcarrying medium and the center of the table on which the medium isplaced is found. Specially modified picture images can also be obtainedby changing rotation speed and so forth. An illustration in FIG. 67describes how a designated picture image is cut out from an original.

Conventionally, when a figure 461 is cut out, for example, an originalis cut larger by means of a mask on the software as shown with a dottedline 463. In the case of an information carrying medium according to thepresent invention, only the figure 461 can easily be read when a maskhaving the same shape and size as those of the figure 461 is employed.

FIG. 68 illustrates an operation of cutting out of an original.

For example, in FIG. 68, when a picture image which needs to be cut outis that shown with reference numeral 471 and an instruction for the cutout is that shown with reference numeral 472, a detecting circuit 475detects the relationship of relative positions between the position fromthe origin point of 472 to a head 411b and the position from the originpoint of 471 to a head 411a, and this detecting signal drives an XYstage 476 to transfer an information carrying medium, thereby permittingreading only a designated area or erasing others while preservinginformation only in a designated area.

Illustrations in FIG. 69 describe the sharpness processing. First, inthe illustration (a), a recording is made of a picture image whosedensity changes like a step. Next, in the illustration (b), a doubleexposure is made over an electrostatic latent image of the image 481 byseparately obtaining an unsharp signal 482 by means of, e.g. passing asignal of the image 481 through a low-pass filter after reversing thepolarity of voltage applied to an information carrying medium. Sincevoltage of the reverse polarity is applied in an exposure in this case,a subtraction is made between the images 481 and 482 to result in anelectrostatic latent image as shown with numeral 483 in theillustration. In the illustration (c), an image 484 whose edge isemphasized can be obtained by overlapping for an exposure the image 481with the image 483 in a condition where the voltage is of the samepolarity as that of the illustration (a) , and therefore the sharpnessprocessing can easily be made by simply repeating an exposure.

This sharpness processing is performed by adding and subtracting imagepotentials, and by developing this procedure a two-dimensional imageoperation can be performed with an information carrying medium.

Formation of a negative latent image according to the present inventioncan easily be made by exposing to a uniform amount of light at a bias ofa designated polarity, and then by exposing at voltage having a polaritywhich is reverse relative to the former.

FIGS. 70(a) and 70(b) illustrate one embodiment of an informationrecording and reproducing apparatus which is used for protecting aprinted original.

In FIGS. 70(a) and 70(b), reference numeral 1 designates an informationcarrying medium, 500 a camera, 501 a color separation filter, 7 aphotosensitive member, 503 an original, 511 a read head, 513 anamplifier, 515 a signal processing unit, 517 a memory, 519 a CRT, 521 aninput unit, and 523 a recording head.

In FIG. 70(a), the electrostatic camera 500 reads the printed original503. The camera 500 comprises the color separation filter 501,photosensitive member 7, and information carrying medium 1, andseparates an input image into R, G and B images by means of the colorseparation filter 501. A predetermined voltage is applied between thephotosensitive member 7 and the medium 1, and a portion of thephotosensitive member 7 which is irradiated with an exposure to lightand thereupon shows conductivity and discharges electricity at theportion between the medium, thereby forming an electrostatic latentimage on the medium 1 according to image 503.

Then, a color image is displayed on the CRT 519 after a designated imageprocessing in the signal processing unit 515 of FIG. 70(b). At aninstruction data unit this color image is monitored and the input unit521 is used for inputting data for designation of a portion which needstrimming or for designation of magnification power and the like. Thus,the color image and the instruction data are recorded electrostaticallyon the medium 1 from the signal processing unit 515 by way of therecording head 523.

FIG. 71 illustrates an information carrying medium on which a colorimage and instruction data are recorded, where A designates a printedoriginal image and B an electrostatic latent image of the instructiondata which has previously been obtained. Thus, damage and stain thatoccur conventionally in each processing can be prevented completely byrecording the printed original and the instruction data on the medium,and then by feeding them into a printing process instead of feeding theprinted original.

In FIG. 70(b), in the case of recording with the recording head 523 onthe information carrying medium 1 from the signal processing unit 515,electrostatic recording is performed by scanning the plane of the medium1 with the recording head. Besides this, there are other methods, e.g.the ion deposition method, in which a laser beam is optically modulatedwith an output from the signal processing unit 515, and recording 1 ismade on the information carrying medium with an exposure to whichvoltage is applied while the modulated laser beam being scanned.

FIG. 72 illustrates the ion deposition method, where an electrostaticlatent image is formed by producing a corona discharge between aninformation carrying medium 1 and an electrode 541 and, by controllingthe corona 543 which is attracted onto the medium 1 by controlling thevoltage which is accordingly applied to the electrode 541 and to a gateelectrode 545 which is insulated with an insulator 547.

As described above, since an information carrying medium is used inplace of a printed original such as a color original, the original canbe prevented from damaging. Also, instructing can be rationalizedbecause a display such as a CRT can be monitored when preparinginstruction data, and a faulty printing process and the like resultingfrom misidentification between an original and instruction data can besecurely prevented because the instruction data and the information ofthe original are recorded on the same medium.

FIG. 73 illustrates the overall structure of a color scanner accordingto the present invention, in which identical reference numerals to thosein FIG. 70 imply identical contents to the same. Reference numeral 522designates a printer and 529 a cylinder.

In FIG. 73, an information carrying medium is placed facing aphotosensitive member, and an electrostatic latent image is recordedwhen an exposure is made in the condition that a designated voltage isapplied.

Besides an image of an original A as shown in FIG. 71, instruction dataB such as magnification power or designated data for trimming arerecorded on the information carrying medium 1. As for recording of theseinstruction data, for example in FIG. 73, the recording can be made onthe information carrying medium by the ion deposition method or thelike, in which the electrostatic latent image on the medium 1 is readwith the read head 511 to display a color image on the CRT 519 afterintroducing a designated image processing with the signal processingunit 515, then magnification power or designated data for trimming isinputted with the input unit 521 while the color image is beingmonitored, and voltage application and exposure are made after opticallymodulating a laser beam with an output from the signal processing unit515.

Then, as shown in FIG. 74, the highlight point H and the shadow point Sare determined by monitoring the color image which is displayed on theCRT 519. Simultaneously, an output density is determined between the Hand the S if it can be like, e.g. an output density havingcharacteristics as designated by P or Q. Accordingly, when the setup iscompleted, a hard copy is printed with, e.g. a sublimation transferprinter 15, and the setup is inspected to see whether or not it isproperly made.

Upon completion of the setup, a printed image will be outputted on aprocessing film which is set on the cylinder 529, by way of the head 523from the signal processing unit 515.

Referring to FIG. 75, further details of the process of printing andprocessing will be described.

First, a read unit 531 reads an electrostatic latent image which isrecorded on an information carrying medium. Here, a read head 511 readsthe electrostatic latent image which is recorded on the medium 1. Theanalog data which have been read will be put into a digital conversion532 after amplification at an amplifier 513, and then color correctionwill be made at a color correction unit 533. In the color correction,signals R, G, and B are converted into signals C, M, Y, and K, first.Since an ink darkens, C', M', Y', and K are corrected for darkness at adark correction unit 533b.

Next, after the setup previously described, a screen dot processing 535will be made, and an exposure processing 537, will be carried outaccording to the formation of the screen dots.

As illustrated in FIG. 76, screen dots are changed in size depending onthe image density. When whitish, screen dots are like those shown inFIG. 76(a). When dark, they are like those in FIG. 76(c). When gray,they are like those in FIG. 76(b). Thus, screen dots are changed in sizewith the pitch being kept unchanged.

In order to form these screen dots, for example, a dot generator may beused as illustrated in FIG. 77. Here a general description will be madeon this method; with one screen dot like that shown in FIG. 77(a),weight determination is made as in the (a), and when a density level ofan image equivalent to one screen dot is 8 as shown in FIG. 77(b), aweight determination value is compared to the image level 8 and aportion whose weight value exceeds a density level is designated inblack as shown in FIG. 77(c). Thus, a screen dot whose size correspondsto a density level can be formed. Since an information carrying mediumis used in place of a color original, as above, the color original canbe free from damage and operation efficiency can be improved becausepreparation of a scanner is not required. Also, errors can be decreasedbecause instruction data are mechanically read together with a pictureimage from the medium on which they are recorded. However,conventionally a drum of a different size must be used when a differentenlargement ratio is employed, the present invention allows a change ofenlargement ratio by simply changing scanning density in reading.

FIG. 78 illustrates one embodiment of an information recording andreproducing method for the purpose of reproducing an original plate. InFIG. 78, reference numeral 540 designates an original plate, 541 anelectrode, 543 a pattern layer, 543a an insulation member, 543b aconductive member, 3 an information carrying medium 4, 11 an insulationlayer, 13 an electrode, 15 a backing member, 17 a D.C. power source, andS a switch. On the original plate 540 there is formed a pattern layer543 comprising the insulation member 543a and the conductive member543b, and the original plate is placed facing and contacting or notcontacting the information carrying medium 3 which is formed with theelectrode 13 and the insulation layer 11 on the backing member 15,thereby applying D.C. voltage from the power source 17 between theelectrodes 13 and 541. Owing to the applied voltage a discharge takesplace between the conductive member 543b and the insulation layer 11,and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the insulation layer 11corresponding to a pattern of the conductive member 543b to reproduce apattern of the original plate 540 on the information carrying medium 3.The reproduced pattern may be read electrically and displayed on a CRTor the like, or may be developed with toner.

The materials and fabrication methods of an information carrying mediumas described above with respect to FIG. 1 apply equally to thisembodiment.

With respect to FIGS. 79 to 83 a fabrication method of an original platewill be described.

FIGS. 79(a), (b) and (c) illustrate a formation in which an insulationpattern is formed on an electrode substrate. As shown in FIG. 79(a), anelectrode 541 is formed on a backing member 545, and an insulationpattern 547 is formed on the electrode 541. In use of this originalplate, an electric discharge occurs between portions of the electrode541 on which no insulation pattern is formed and an information carryingmedium, thereby reproducing an original plate.

FIG. 79(b) illustrates an example in which a patterned electrode 549 isprovided on the surface of a backing member 545, wherein at least thesurface is insulated by insulation member 548. In the case the backingmember is made of glass which is insulated as is, for example, theelectrode may be directly provided on the glass.

FIG. 79(c) illustrates an example in which an electrical connection ismade on an isolated electrode 550 with the pattern unchanged. In thisexample, the electrical connection to the isolated electrode is achievedby way of the conductive backing member 545, while a defect portion informed on the insulation member 548 in the surface insulation layer ofthe conductive backing member where the isolated electrode is located.

FIG. 80 illustrates a formation in which a conductive pattern is formedby piercing a conductive member through an insulation member. Aconductive member 552 is filled piercing an insulation member 551, andplanes of the insulation member and conductive member are flush witheach other on the side they face an information carrying medium, andarranged so as to connect a wire 553 to a portion of the conductivemember which is projected from the other side of the insulation memberand to apply voltage thereto. As for a method of filling the conductivemember 552 into the insulation member 551, for example, a thininsulation film is used as the insulation member 551, and this is placedon a metal plate so that a thin, pin-shaped conductive member may befilled therein to form a pattern. An image can be made light or shadedby changing resistance of each pin according to its location.

FIGS. 81 and 82 illustrate formations in which grooves are formed onconductive members thereof.

By forming grooves 562 in conductive members 561 the grooves are freefrom electric discharges, and thereby patterns can be reproduced.

Furthermore, the groove 562 may be filled with a conductive member 563by pressure as shown in FIG. 82.

FIG. 83 illustrates an embodiment of forming a pattern by an exposinglight in using the photosensitive member (hereinafter, memoryphotosensitive member) which mainly exhibits a durable conductivity byan exposing light in the medium formed by using a photoconductiveinsulation layer on an electrode substrate.

On a glass substrate 571 there is formed an electrode 572, and on theelectrode there is formed an insulation member 573. The insulationmember 573 which is made of, e.g. polyvinyl carbazole (PVK) isirradiated with ultraviolet light to generate radicals and to lowerresistance thereof, thus showing and maintaining conductivity forseveral hours. This insulation member also has a characteristic which itreturns to be an insulator with heat, and for example, heat of 150° C.for a second returns it to being almost an insulator. Accordingly, anoriginal plate can be made by forming a conductive pattern with anexposure, and heating erases and permits the pattern to be usedrepeatedly.

When PVK is added with, e.g., triphenyl dyes, exposures can be made evenby visible light or a He-Ne laser beam. A pattern may be formed byfixing the brightness of an exposing light source, so as to detectwhether or not there is an exposure or to obtain a light or shaded imageby spatially modulating the brightness of the light source.

FIG. 84 illustrates a consecutive reproduction using an insulation filmas an information carrying medium. In FIG. 84, reference numeral 581denotes a cylindrical original plate, 582 a cylindrical electrode, 583 aD.C. power source, 584 an insulation film, 585 a developing unit, 586 afixing unit, 587 a feed roll, and 588 a take-up roll.

The cylindrical original plate is fabricated by the method which isshown in FIGS. 79 to 83. The plate is faced to and kept contacting thecylindrical electrode 582 in order to consecutively feed the insulationfilm 584.

An electrostatic latent image is formed on the insulation film byrotating the cylindrical original plate 581 and cylindrical electrode582 at a high speed, and then the formed electrostatic latent image isdeveloped with toner by means of the developing unit 585 and a facingelectrode 585' to be fixed with the fixing unit 586, thereby reproducingan original plate at an ultra high speed. However in the illustrativeexample the cylindrical plate and the cylindrical electrode are notcontacting each other, they may contact as well.

FIG. 85 illustrates an example in which a toner image formed on theinsulation film in FIG. 84 is transferred on a transfer paper 591. As isdescribed previously, the toner image formed on the insulation film 584is transferred with a transfer unit 592 and fixed on the transfer paper591. In this example, there may also be a usage in which remaining tonerand electrostatic latent image are erased after a transfer with theinsulation film 584 which is made endless.

Thus, reproduction of an original plate can easily be made many times ata high speed by making an original plate which forms a pattern,comprising a conductive member and insulation member thereon facing aninformation carrying medium whose electrode substrate has an insulationlayer to apply D.C. voltage between the conductive member of theoriginal plate and the electrode substrate, to form on the informationcarrying medium an electrostatic latent image which corresponds to thepattern of the original plate.

The reproduction can be made at an ultra high speed by making anoriginal plate into a cylindrical shape. The reproduced pattern can bemade into a developed image by changing into electric signals or bytoner development.

FIG. 86 illustrates an information recording and reproducing process forthe purpose of an exposure method of an information carrying medium,wherein reference numeral 601 designates a mirror, 604 a developingunit, 605 a paper or a film, 606 a transfer unit, 607 a fixing roll, 608a feed roll, 609 a take-up roll, and 610 an eraser. A scanning light ora slit light such as a laser beam which has irradiated on the surface ofan original, not shown herein, is irradiated by way of the mirror 601 onphotosensitive member 1. The photosensitive member 1 is long and slendervertically to the paper surface, and a predetermined voltage is appliedbetween this and an information carrying medium 3 on a rotating drum. Asa result, an electrostatic latent image is recorded on the drum-shapedinformation carrying medium 3, according to the image density of theoriginal.

The formed electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by meansof the developing unit 604 and, further, it is transferred onto thepaper or film 605 by means of the transfer unit 606 comprising acorotron so as to be fixed with the fixing roll 607 in which a heater isincorporated. After the transfer, remaining potential over theinformation carrying medium is erased by the eraser 610 for thepreparation of oncoming exposures. The eraser 610 is provided for thepurpose of leaking potential over the information carrying medium, whichmay be a conductive type of material in a free form such as liquid orsolid that can leak potential by contacting the information carryingmedium. Remaining potential may be canceled by an A.C. corona discharge.

Since an image information is recorded as an electrostatic latent imageon the information carrying medium 3 in the exposure method for aninformation carrying medium of this embodiment, the latent image ismaintained stably for a long time, thereby eliminating a need for strictpotential control as is needed in the case of a conventional copier, andlow voltage and low power consumption by the exposure unit is realizedowing to response to a very small quantity of light.

FIG. 87(a) illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, andidentical reference numerals designate identical parts as designated inFIG. 1(a). Reference numeral 620 indicates a magnetic brush developingunit, 621 a rotating magnet, and 622 an electrode.

In this embodiment, an information carrying medium 3 is either apaper-like or film-like insulation member, wherein recording of an imageis made on the paper-like or film-like insulation member by placing theelongated electrode 622 facing and in a similar manner to aphotosensitive member 1 which is long and slender in the verticaldirection relative to the paper surface, and by applying a predeterminedvoltage between the photosensitive member 1 and the electrode 622.

In operation, the elongated photosensitive member 1 is irradiated with alaser scan beam or a slit beam from an original which is not shownherein. Oil the other hand, the paper-like information carrying medium 3is continuously fed by means of the feed roll 608 and the take-up roll609 contacting the electrode 622, and by applying voltage between thephotosensitive member 1 and the electrode 622 electrostatic latentimages are consecutively formed on the information carrying medium 3according to the image information. The electrostatic latent imagesformed on the paper-like information carrying medium are developed withtoner by means of the magnet brush developing unit 620, and thus, tonerimages are formed as shown in FIG. 87(b). The magnetic brush developingunit 620 comprising the rotating magnet 621 rotates by means of arotation of a magnet to make magnetic toner grains into a brush-likeform, thereby contacting a recording medium for developing. Thereafter,a fixing unit not shown herein fixes the images.

The transfer process can be omitted, since an information carryingmedium itself functions as a copying medium in this embodiment. Needlessto say, a further transfer may be made on another paper or the like fromthe paper-like information carrying medium. If the information carryingmedium is capable of maintaining a latent image potential stably for along time, development can be made at a freely designated time, and forconstructing the apparatus a latent image potential forming unit, adeveloping unit, or the like can be separately constructed.

FIG. 88 illustrates another embodiment according to the presentinvention, in which a plane exposure is employed.

In this embodiment, a photosensitive member 1 is formed like a plane,and an electrode 622 in formed like a similar plane to that of thephotosensitive member, where the electrode faces the photosensitivemember 1 and is positioned behind a paper-like or film-like informationcarrying medium 3. Then, exposures are made consecutively byintermittently feeding the information carrying medium 3 and by stoppingthe medium at a designated position at a time of exposure.

Owing to the plane exposure as above, time required for an exposure canbe notably decreased.

FIG. 89(a) illustrates a configuration in which the magnetic brushdeveloping unit 620 is placed facing a photosensitive member withrespect to an information carrying medium, wherein the informationcarrying medium 3 is simply an insulation film with no polarity, asshown in FIG. 89(b), to ground the magnetic brush developing unit andapply designated voltage to the electrode of the photosensitivemember 1. When a light source 602 irradiates on the surface of anoriginal and its reflected light makes a plane exposure of thephotosensitive member 1, an electrostatic latent image is formed on theinformation carrying medium 3 and, simultaneously, the image isdeveloped with toner by means of the developing unit 620. Exposure anddeveloping are simultaneously made to form a toner image on the otherside of the exposure unit, by making magnetic toner grains into a brushshape of the toner grains by means of the developing unit 620 comprisinga rotating magnet 621 to contact the information carrying medium 3. Inthis case, because the developing unit also functions as an electrodeand grounds charges of the information carrying medium by way of themagnetic toner grains, the entire exposure plane should face theinformation carrying medium, and therefore a plurality of developingunits should be arranged depending on the condition. After thedevelopment as above, the image is thermally fixed with a heater 607.

In the case of this embodiment, preferably, the exposure is not theplane exposure method but an exposure method using a slit beam or ascanning beam should be used and, the shape of a developing unit shouldbe long, slender, and small, since there may be a case where a largedeveloping unit or a plurality of developing units are required becausethe developing unit of the embodiment also functions as an electrode dueto the information carrying medium being simply a film-like insulationmember having no electrode.

FIG. 90(a) illustrates an example in which the magnetic brush developingunit is placed with respect to an information carrying medium on thesame side as that of a photosensitive member.

As shown in FIG. 90(b), the information carrying medium is configuredinto a conventional structure, in which an electrode 13 is formed on aninsulation layer backing member 15 and a further insulation layer 11 isformed on the electrode, so that an electrostatic latent image is formedby applying a designated voltage between the electrode of thephotosensitive member and the electrode 13 of the information carryingmedium 3, developing may be made at a freely designated time after theexposure, and a toner image is formed on the exposure side.

FIG. 91 illustrates one embodiment of an information recording andreproducing apparatus for the purpose of static copying.

The surface of a original 601 is irradiated with a light source 602, adreflected light therefrom is irradiated on a photosensitive member 1. Apredetermined voltage is applied between the photosensitive member 1 andan information carrying medium 3, the plane exposure is made on thephotosensitive member 1 with light having image information from thesurface of the original, and conductivity is given on the photosensitivemember according to the image density, thereby forming an electrostaticlatent image of the original 601 on the information carrying medium 3according to the picture image. The information carrying medium, on theother hand, is carried by a conveyer belt 603 and developed with tonerby means of a developing unit 604. The toner-developed informationcarrying medium 3 is transferred on a transfer film 605 comprising acopy paper or film having a normal toner on the information carryingmedium 3, and a toner image on the transfer film is fixed with a heater607. Since the information carrying medium 3 responds to very weaklight, the light source 602 does not need to be a kind that is large andpowerful and used for a normal copier. Also, since an electrostaticlatent image on the information carrying medium can be maintained for along time, it is not necessary to develop the image immediately afterformation of the electrostatic latent image. Instead, it is possible topreserve the image as in the condition of the medium on which theelectrostatic latent image is formed, so as to transfer the image bydeveloping at a freely designated time and location thereafter.Accordingly, it is possible to construct units having an electrostaticlatent image forming member, a developing member, and a transfer memberas separate units.

FIG. 92 illustrates another embodiment of an information recording andcarrying apparatus for the purpose of static copying.

In this embodiment, the surface of an original is scanned by means of aslit light source, a photosensitive member 1 is of a long, slender shapecorresponding to the slit light source, and an electrostatic latentimage is formed sequentially on an information carrying medium 3according to the picture image density of the surface of the original.The operation of the apparatus is the same as that of the one shown inFIG. 86 and the description of the operation thereof is omitted.

Although a transfer film illustrated in FIG. 92 is shown as a continuousone, a single piece of paper may also be used as in the case of a normalcopier.

FIG. 93 illustrates one embodiment of an information carrying medium forthe purpose of forming a toner picture image. In FIG. 93, referencenumerals 611 and 623 denote chargers, 625 a transfer film, and 627 aninfrared lamp.

Toners available are dry type and wet type, which are made of finepowder colorings made of dye, pigment, and resin. The former toner ischarged by friction with an iron powder, glass bead, or itself, and thelatter toner is charged by absorption of ions and then dispersed into aninsulating solvent.

Developing is made by bringing a toner into contact with an informationcarrying medium 3 formed with an electrostatic latent image thereon.When a toner having a charge of polarity opposite to the charge of theelectrostatic latent image is used, a toner image corresponding to theimage is obtained and, when a toner having a charge of the same polarityis used, a reverse image of the electrostatic latent image is obtained.In FIG. 93, open circles indicate toner particles positively charged andsolid circles toner particles negatively charged.

After the toner image is formed, toner transfer is carried out.

This is performed by corona discharge with a polarity opposite to thepolarity of the toner by a charger 611 or by applying bias voltage toattract toner particles while the transfer film 625 is pressed to theinformation carrying medium 3.

After the transfer, thermal fixing is carried out by infrared lamp 627or a hot roll (not shown) and image transfer is completed.

The information carrying medium of the present invention can storecharges for a long period of time and hence it is not necessary to tonerdevelop an electrostatic latent image as soon as it is formed as inelectrophotography used in a copying machine. According to the presentinvention, the toner development may be carried out at a desired time.

FIG. 94 illustrates how to perform color composition from an informationcarrying medium of which an electrostatic latent image has beensubjected to toner development, the electrostatic latent image havingbeen separated into R, G and B three face sections. The informationcarrying medium 3 is urged against the transfer roll 631 having atransfer film 633 placed around it. When the length of the circumferenceof the transfer roll 631 is equal to the length of the face section ofeach color, three revolutions of the roll forms a multicolor picture.Alternatively, the transfer film may be moved for each color to performcolor composition. Color composition may be carried out when theinformation carrying medium for each of R, G and B is separate andindependent from the other.

In the foregoing statement, the electrostatic latent image is tonerdeveloped, transferred and then fixed to form a final image, but thefinal image is not necessarily formed. For example, when the informationcarrying medium 3 is transparent, rays of light may be imposed on itafter it is toner developed to obtain an enlarged image by projection ofthe toner developed image. When the information carrying medium is nottransparent, an enlarged image is obtained as a reflected light image ofthe developed image by utilizing reduction in light reflection due tothe toner. In this case, mere projection is carried out for eachmonocolor, and images by penetrating light or by reflection light ofthree color separated images may be composed at a projection plane. Whenthe toner has a penetratability, it has a filtering effect to images bypenetrating light. When it has no penetratability, then a color filtermay be placed in front of the projection plane.

FIG. 95 illustrates how to obtain an image by penetrating light of atoner image formed by the information carrying medium 3. In FIG. 95, thereference numeral 640 designates a light source, 641 a lens, 643 afilter, and 645 a screen.

The information carrying medium includes a transparent insulation layer11, transparent electrode 13 and transparent backing member 15. Rays oflight are imposed from light source 640 on the side of the transparentbacking member 15 to thereby project an image of a toner image by thepenetrating rays of light through lens 641 and filter 643. In this case,a white and black toner provides a protection of a black and whiteimage. When color toners and filters are used in combination and imagesare composed on a screen 645, a multicolor projected image is formed.

FIG. 96 is an illustration of how to obtain a reflected image of a tonerimage formed on information carrying medium 3. In this case, theelectrode 13 serves as a light reflecting layer, which reflects lightfrom the light source 640 for forming a projected image of the tonerimage on the screen 645. Also in this case, a black and white image or amulticolor image may be formed. According to this embodiment, anelectrostatic latent image is formed as an analog amount in a plane onthe information carrying medium and the image is then developed bycharged particles for converting the latent image to a visible image.Thus, this embodiment provides a high quality, high resolution image,ease in processing the image, storage for a long term as compared to theprior art and provides a toner image from stored image information asdesired.

FIGS. 97 to 99 show one embodiment of a card recording medium.

FIG. 97(a) is a perspective view of a ROM type electrostatic charge cardtype recording medium of the present invention, FIG. 97(b) is asectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG. 97(a) and illustrates astate in which a protection film is covered, FIG. 98 is a sectionalview, FIG. 99(a) is a perspective view of a DRAW-type electrostaticcharge recording medium, and FIG. 99(b) is a sectional view taken alongthe line B--B in FIG. 99(a), in which reference number 651 designates acard base material and 653 a protection film.

The electrostatic charge recording medium 3 shown in FIG. 98 correspondsto the information carrying medium described in connection with FIG. 1.

The information recording card 650 may be a card in which information isalready recorded in the electrostatic charge recording medium as shownin FIG. 97 (hereinafter referred to as a ROM type card) or a card, inwhich information is not yet recorded or which has a portion capable ofrecording information, as shown in FIG. 99 (hereinafter referred to as aDRAW type card). In the DRAW type card, the protection film may be anadhesive plastic film, previously described, which can be separated fromthe surface of the insulation layer so that in recording the protectionfilm is separated from the insulating film for recording information onan unrecorded portion of the card while after recording the insulatingfilm is covered with the film again. An electrode terminal 13a isprovided to the rear face of the card base member 651 for applyingvoltage to the electrode in recording information.

It is to be noted that the information recording card may be of erasableDRAW type or E-DRAW type since an electrostatic latent image can beeasily erased as described previously.

Thus, the information carrying medium may be formed in a card shape andconstitutes a so called electrostatic charge card by storing data as anelectrostatic latent image.

FIG. 100 is a view showing another embodiment of the informationrecording card or the card like recording medium of the presentinvention.

In this embodiment, the card like recording medium 660 is provided witha high charge density region 661 and an electrostatic charge recordingregion 663. As already stated, in the electrostatic recording, 100 MByteof information may be stored in 1 cm×1 cm area. Thus, it is possible tomake mass storage in not so large an area as the storage region. In anordinary card, there is a large unused area in addition to the storagearea, and so the unused area may be used for a power source, not forstorage of information, by accumulating charges there at a high density.The energy stored in the that area may be used as an energy source forrecording and reproducing information of the card or for other purposes.

FIG. 101 is a view illustrating another embodiment of the presentinvention, in which a specific electrostatic pattern is formed in thecard recording medium.

In this embodiment, a specific pattern, for example, "AB" iselectrostatically recorded. This pattern is not visible and cannot berecognized unless investigation is made as to whether or not a patternis recorded, and it is hence useful for preventing forging of the card.

FIG. 102 is a view showing another embodiment of the card recordingmedium which forms a hologram image in a region thereof.

In this embodiment, exposure is made by a laser interference beam toform a hologram image 671 on a portion of the card recording medium 670.The formation of the hologram image in such a manner provides anornamental effect to the card and prevents forging.

Both a specific electrostatic latent pattern and a hologram image may berecorded in the card recording medium.

A hologram image and a specific electrostatic latent image pattern maybe recorded on a flexible film, not the card itself, to form anelectrostatic label and such a label may be attached to the cardrecording medium.

FIG. 103 shows a view of another embodiment in which an integratedcircuit is incorporated. This embodiment has an electrostatic chargerecording storing region 671 and further incorporates into it theintegrated circuit 669, which may serve merely as a memory storage ormay have a processing function. In the latter case, the integratedcircuit may perform electrical processing in recording and reading ofcharges.

FIG. 104 is an illustration of a card recording medium of the presentinvention with a magnetic storage region. The magnetic card is widelyused as a convenient recording card but it has drawbacks in having arelatively small storage capacity and easy forging. The combination ofthe magnetic card with the card recording medium eliminates their faultsand uses their merits. The card of this embodiment in provided with amagnetic storage region 675 in addition to an electrostatic chargestorage region 673.

FIG. 105 is a view showing another embodiment of the present inventionin which an optical card is combined with an electrostatic card. Thisembodiment is provided with an electrostatic storage region 677 and anoptical card storage region 679. The optical card storage region 679 maybe either of a ROM type, in which data is previously written by laser,or a writable DRAW type or writable and erasable EDRAW type. In thisembodiment, the electrostatic storage region may be of the ROM type,DRAW type or EDRAW type and may be provided together with the magneticrecording region.

FIGS. 106(a) and 106(b) are views of another embodiment of the presentinvention in which the card recording medium is provided with a floppydisk. In this embodiment, the card recording medium is provided with anintegrated circuit IC 681, an electrostatic storage region 683, and thefloppy disc 687 in addition to a magnetic storage region 685. The floppydisc 687 is accommodated in a hollow portion 689 provided in the cardrecording medium 660, and when set in a reading unit, not shown, it isadapted to rotate in the hollow portion.

Although not shown, the card recording medium of the present inventionmay be combined with an ID card, a credit card, a marking card, such asa telephone charge card and a train fee card.

As described above, the card recording medium of the present inventionmay be provided with a plurality of recording regions of variousrecording systems and in this way the present invention may be appliedto various uses, such as identification, prepaid card, credit card,electronic calculator, electronic pocket book, camera, karte, timetable, map, charge lock, miniature book, name card, sensor, cell, barcode, message exchange, libretto book, game and foreign languagelearning.

FIG. 107 illustrates one embodiment of a system for issuing a cardrecord medium. In FIG. 107, the reference numeral 700 designates acontrol unit, 701 and 703 power sources, 705 and 707 drive units, 709mask and 711 rotating table.

In this system, the control unit 700 controls the power source 701 andthe illumination light source, which consists of, for example, manylight emitting diodes, which emit light in a predetermined patternaccording to data inputted to the control unit 700 to thereby writedesired data in the card recording medium 3 which includes aninformation carrying medium. The power source 703 applies apredetermined voltage across the photosensitive member and theinformation carrying medium. On the other hand, the card recordingmedium 660 is placed on a rotation table and set to a predeterminedposition. Mask 709 is interposed between an illumination light sourceand the photosensitive member of the card by the drive unit 705, themask determining which region should be a storing region or preventingrays of light from breaking through to the neighboring region. Thenetting of the card recording medium to the exposure position may bemade by a linear movement thereof by a belt or the like member ratherthan a rotary movement.

FIG. 108 is a view showing one embodiment of a label recording medium ofthe present invention, in which the information carrying medium isformed in a label shape and a hologram image 721 is recorded on it. Aspecific electrostatic pattern may be formed instead of the hologram721, or they may be formed in combination. As shown in FIG. 109, anadhesive layer 730 may be laminated on the rear face of the label inFIG. 108, and this label may be attached to a cassette tape recorder asshown in FIG. 110 for preventing forging.

The following are specific examples of fabrication of elements of theinformation recording and reproducing apparatus of the presentinvention.

EXAMPLE 1 Fabrication of an Information Carrying Medium

A hardening agent (a metallic catalyst), sold by Toshiba Silicone with aproduct name "CR-5", was added in an amount of 1 weight % (0.2 g) to aliquid mixture including 10 g of methyl phenyl silicon resin and 10 g ofxylene-butanol 1:1 solvent and then sufficiently stirred to produce acoating liquid, which was coated by means of doctor blade 4 mil over aglass substrate, having 1000 Å aluminum vapor deposited. The coatedsubstrated was then dried at 150° C. for one hour to form an informationcarrying medium (a) with a 10 μm thick coating.

A 100 μm thick polyester film having 1000 Å aluminum film vapordeposited was similarly coated with the liquid mixture, above describedand then dried to form an information carrying medium film (b).

The liquid mixture was also coated over a 4 inch diameter disc-shapedacrylic substrate of a thickness 1 mm, having 1000 Å aluminum layercoated over it. The coating was made by means of a spinner at 2000 rpm.The coated substrate was dried at 50° C. for hours to produce adisc-shaped information carrying medium (c) with a 7 μm thick coating.

Similar coating and drying were made with the above liquid mixturefurther added with 0.1 g zinc stearate to produce an informationcarrying medium (d) having a 10 μm coating.

EXAMPLE 2

A liquid mixture, including 10 g of a polyimide resin and 10 g ofN-methylpyrolidone, was spinner coated over a glass substrate, having1000 Å thick aluminum layer coated, at 1000 rpm for 20 seconds. Fordrying the solvent, predrying was carried out at 150° C. for 30 minutesand then, the substrate was heated at 350° C. for 2 hours for hardeningto form a 8 μm thick uniform coating.

EXAMPLE 3 Fabrication of Monolayer Organic Photosensitive Member(PVK-TNF)

A liquid mixture including 10 g of poly-N-vinylcarbazole, (produced byAnan Koryou K.K), 10 g of 2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone, 2 g of a polyesterresin (having a binder, produced by Toyoho K.K. under product name Vylon200), and 90 g of tetrahydrofuran (THF) was prepared in the dark. Thisliquid mixture was applied over a 1 mm thick glass substrate, havingabout 1000 Å thick In₂ O₃ -SnO₂ film sputtered over it, by means of adoctor blade and then the coated substrate was dried under ventilationat 60° C. for about one hour to form a photosensitive layer having about10 μm thick photoconductive layer. For completely drying, air drying atroom temperature was made for another day.

EXAMPLE 4 Production of an Amorphous Silicon aSi:H InorganicPhotosensitive Member

(1) Cleaning of substrate

A 23 mm long, 16 mm wide and 0.9 mm thick, optically polished glasssubstrate, sold by Corning under product designation 7059 glass, andhaving a thin transparent SnO₂ electrode layer formed on its one face,was subjected to ultrasonic cleaning in each of trichloroethane, acetoneand ethanol in the described order. The glass was cleaned in eachcleaning liquid for 10 minutes.

(2) Preparation of equipment

A reaction receptacle and gas pipes were placed within a reactionchamber 804, which was evacuated by a diffusion pump to 10⁻⁵ Torr forcarrying out heating at 150°-350° C. for one hour, and after heating thechamber was cooled.

(3) Deposition of aSi:H(n+)

The substrate cleaned was set on the anode 806 in the reaction chamber804 shown in FIG. 111 with good thermal conduction, and the reactionchamber was evacuated to 10⁻⁵ Torr by the diffusion pump, in whichcondition the heater 808 was adjusted so that the glass substrate wasincreased to 250° C. At this temperature, a gas of B₂ H₆ /SiH₄ (1000ppm) was allowed to flow into the reaction chamber 804 by controllingthe needle valve and the rotation of the PMB so that pressure in thechamber was 200 m Torr. After the inner pressure of the reaction chamberbecame constant, 40 W of Rf power 802 (13.56 MHz) was put to workthrough the Matching box 803 to form plasma between the cathode and theanode. The deposition was performed for 4 minutes, then Rf power wasdisconnected, and the needle valve was closed. This resulted in about a0.2 μm thick aSi:H(n+) layer which constituted a blocking layer beingdeposited on the substrate.

(4) Deposition of aSi:H

A silane gas of 100% SiH₄ was entered into the reaction chamber in thesame manner as in (3) Deposition of aSi:H. When the inner pressure inthe chamber became constant, 40 W Rf power 202 (13.56 MHz) was similarlyconnected through the matching box 803 to form a plasma which wasmaintained for 70 minutes. After the deposition was completed, the Rfpower was disconnected and the needle valve was closed. After thesubstrate was cooled by turning off the heater 808, it was taken out. Asa result, about 18.8 μm thick film was deposited on the aSi:H(n+) film.Thus, a photosensitive member including a SnO₂ /aSi:H(n+) blockinglayer/aSi:H(non doped) of 20 μm was produced.

EXAMPLE 5 Fabrication of Amorphous Selenium-Tellurium InorganicPhotosensitive Member

A mixture of metallic particles obtained by mixing selenium (Se) withtellurium (Te) in a proportion of 13% by weight was used. A Se-Te thinfilm was formed on an ITO glass substrate by vapor depositing themetallic mixture at a vacuum degree of 10⁻⁵ Torr under resistanceheating. The film has a thickness 1 μm. Subsequently at the same vacuumlevel, Se vapor deposition was similarly carried out under resistanceheating to form a 10 μm a-Se layer on the a-Se-Te layer.

EXAMPLE 6 Production of Function Separated Photosensitive Member(Forming of Charge Generation Layer)

A liquid mixture consisting of 0.4 of chlorodianeblue and 40 g ofdichloroethane was placed in a stainless receptacle having a volume of250 ml, and then 180 ml of glass beads No3 was added. This material waspulverized by a vibrating mill (sold by Yasukawa Denki Seisakunho underproduct designation ED9-4) for about 4 hours to produce chlorodianebluewith particle size 5 μm or smaller, to which, the glass beads beingfiltered, 0.4 g of polycarbonate, sold by Mitsubishi Gas Kagaku undertradename Upiron E-2000 was stirred for about 4 hours to form asolution, which was applied by a doctor blade on a 1 mm thick glasssubstrate, having about a 1000 Å thick In₂ O₃ -SnO₂ film sputtered onit, to form about a 1 μm thick charge generation layer which was driedat room temperature for one day.

Formation of a Charge Transport Layer

A liquid mixture, containing 0.1 of4-dibenzylamino-2-methylbenzaldebyde-1,1'-diphenylhydrazone, 0.1 g ofpolycarbonate (Lipiron E-2000), and 2.0 g of dichloroethane, was coatedby a doctor blade over the charge generation layer, above mentioned, toform an about 10 μm thick charge transport layer, which was dried at 60°C. for 2 hours.

EXAMPLE 7 Formation of a Charge Generation Layer

10 g of butyl acetate, 0.25 g of butylal resin, (sold by Sekisui Kagaku,Japan under trade name SLEC), 0.5 g of a ClO₄ salt of azulenium havingthe following equation: ##STR1## and 33 g of glass beads were mixed andstirred by a touch mixer for one day to prepare sufficiently dispersedmaterial, which was applied by a doctor blade or applicator on ITOdeposited on a glass plate and then dried at 60° C. for more than 2hours to form a dried film having a thickness 1 μm or less.

Formation of a Charge Transport Layer

9.5 g of tetrahydrofuran, 0.5 g of polycarbonate, sold by Mitsubishi GasKagaku, Japan, under trade name of Upiron E 2000), 0.5 g of a hydrazonederivative (sold by Anan Koryou, Japan, under product designationCTC191) having the following equation: ##STR2## were mixed and thenapplied by a doctor made over one charge generation layer abovedescribed to form a coating, which was dried at 600° C. for 2 hours witha film thickness 10 μm or less.

EXAMPLE 8 Formation of an Electron Generation Layer

20 g of tetrahydrofuran, 0.5 g of a butylal resin, (sold by SeklauiKagaku, Japan, under tradename of SLEC), 0.25 g oftitanylphthalocyanine, 0.25 g of 4.10-dibromoanthanthrone, and 33 g ofglass beads No. 1 were stirred by a touch mixer for one day to obtain asufficiently dispersed material, which was applied by a doctor blade orapplicator over ITO laminated over a glass plate and then dried at 60°C. for 2 or more hours to produce a dried coating with a thickness 1 μmor less.

Fabrication of a Charge Transport Layer

0.5 g of polycarbonate (produced by Mitsubishi Gas Kagaku, Japan, underthe trade name of Upiron E2000), and 0.5 g of the above-describedhydrazone derivative (sold by Anan Koryou, Japan, under productdesignation CTC191) were dissolved into 9.5 g of dichloroethane toprepare a coating material, which was applied by a doctor blade over thecharge generation layer, above described, and then dried for 2 hours at60° C. for 2 hours or more to form a film having a thickness 10 μm orlarger.

EXAMPLE 9 Forming of a Barrier Layer of Charge Injection Layer

A soluble polyamide (sold by Toa Gosei Kagaku, Japan, under productdesignation FS-175SV10) was coated by a spin coater with a thickness0.5-1 μm on ITO laminated on a glass plate and then dried at 60° C. for2 hours or more.

Forming of a Charge Generation Layer

10 g of butyl acetate, 0.25 g of a butylal resin (sold by SekisuiKagaku, Japan, under the tradename SLEC), 0.5 g of the above-describedC104 salt of azulenium and 33 g of glass beads No. 1 were mixed andstirred by a touch mixer for one day to produce a sufficiently dispersedmaterial, which was applied by a doctor plate or an applicator over thebarrier layer of charge injection above mentioned and then dried at 60°C. for 2 hours or more to form a dried coating having a thickness 1 μmor less.

Formation of a Charge Transport Layer

0.5 g of polycabonate (sold by Mitsubishi Gas Kagaku, Japan undertradename Upiron E2000) and 0.5 g of the above-described hydrazonederivative (sold by Anan Koryou under product designation CTC191 weredissolved into tetrahydrofuran to prepare a coating material, which wascoated by a doctor blade on the charge generation layer and then driedat 60° C. for 2 hours or more to form a coating with a thickness 10 μmor less.

EXAMPLE 10 Formation of a Barrier Layer of Charge Injection Layer

A soluble polyamide (sold by Toa Gosei Kagaku under product designationFS-175SV10) was applied with a thickness of 0.5-1 μm over ITO, laminatedon a glass plate, and then dried at 60° C. for 2 hours or more.

Formation of a Charge Generation Layer

20 g of tetrahydrofuran, 0.5 g of a butylal resin (sold by SekisuiKagaku under the tradename SLEC), 0.25 of titanylphalocyanine,4.10-dibromoansuansuron and 33 g of glass beads No.1 were stirred by atouch mixer for one day to form a sufficiently dispersed material, whichwas applied by a doctor blade or all applicator on the above-mentionedbarrier layer of charge injection and was then dried at 60° C. for 2hours or more to form a dried coating having a thickness 1 μm or less.

Formation of a Charge Transport Layer

0.5 g of polycarbonate (sold by Mitsubishi Gas Kagaku under thetradename Upiron E2000) and 0.5 g of the above-mentioned hydrazonederivative (sold by Anan Koryo under product designation CTC191) weredissolved into 9.5 g of dichloroethane as a solvent to prepare a coatingmaterial, which was applied by a doctor blade over the above-mentionedcharge generating layer and then dried at 60° C. for 2 hours to form adried coating having a thickness 10 μm or larger.

EXAMPLE 11 Formation of an Electrode Layer for a Photosensitive Member

An indium tin oxide (ITO) having specific resistance 100 Ω.cm² wascoated by sputtering over a blue glass plate in condition of 100° C. bythe substrate temperature and 10⁻³ Torr under oxyatomosphere. Thismaterial may be deposited by EB method.

Formation of a Barrier Layer of Charge Injection

Silicon dioxide was sputtered over the above-described electrode layer.The thickness of the silicon dioxide may be 100-3000 Å and aluminumoxide may be used in place of silicon dioxide. EB method may be adoptedinstead of sputtering for depositing the layer.

Formation of Charge Generation Layer

A selenium-tellurium layer containing 13% by weight of tellurium wasdeposited on the above barrier layer of charge injection by resistanceheating with a thickness 10 μm or less.

EXAMPLE 12 Production of Thermoelectret

A 1000 Å thick aluminum film was vacuum deposited on a 20 μm thickpolyvinylidene fluoride film at 10⁻⁶ Torr under resistance heating toform an information carrying medium.

This medium and the photosensitive member of the example 9 were used toform an electrostatic latent image. First, the information carryingmedium was heated to 180° C. by bringing a hot plate (3×3 cm) intocontact with the aluminum substrate thereof. Immediately after theheating, the photosensitive member was arranged to face the chargecarrying medium with a 10 μm air gap to apply a voltage of -700 V acrossthe electrodes with positive polarity at the electrode of photosensitivemember and was exposed on this condition. The exposure was performed bya halogen light source from the rear face of the photosensitive memberthrough an original, carrying a character pattern, at 10 lux.

Then, the film was allowed to cool, with the result that a potential of-150 V was determined at the exposed portion or the character patternportion while no potential was measured at the unexposed portion. Waterdrops were dripped on the film having the charged pattern and thenrecovered, after which the potential determination was made. Thisrevealed the same result that the potential of exposed portion was -150V. On the other hand, charges of -150 V were generated on the surface ofa similar information carrying medium by corona discharging in a forcedmanner. Then, water drops were dripped on the surface and thenrecovered, after which it was determined that the potential of theexposed portion which had been -150 V was decreased to 0 V with nocharge. It was noted that the generation of charges under heating wasdue to the fact that polarization occurs within the polyvinylidenefluoride to form an electret.

EXAMPLE 13 Production of an Photoelectret

A substrate was prepared by depositing a 1000 Å thick aluminum layer ona 1 mm thick glass backing member by sputtering, and then about a 1.5 μmthick zinc sulfide film was vapor deposited on the aluminum layer at10⁻⁵ Torr under resistance heating. An outerface of ITO deposited on aglass was arranged to face this zinc sulfide layer with an air gap 10 μmand +700 V was applied across the electrodes with the aluminum electrodenegatively. In this condition, exposure was performed from the side ofthe ITO substrate in the same manner as in Example 11. This resulted inthat +80 V of potential was determined at the exposed portion while nopotential was measured at the unexposed portion. Also in this example, awater dripping test was made in the same manner as in Example 11 andrevealed that no change in potential was noted and an electret withinwhich charges were stored was formed.

EXAMPLE 14

The monolayer organic photosensitive member (PVK-TNF) of Example 3, theinformation carrying medium (a) of Example 1 and a glass substrate werestacked with the electrodes placed outside and set to a camera, in thisevent a 10 μm thick polyester film was arranged as a spacer at theperipheral portions of the photosensitive member and the informationcarrying medium except exposed faces an shown in FIG. 112 for forming agap between them.

Pictures of an object were taken outside in the daytime by releasing anoptical shutter with a shutter speed 1/60 second and f=1.4 or byapplying voltage for 1/60 second with the shutter fully released, undervoltage of 700 V applied to the electrodes with the photosensitivemember negatively and the charge carrying medium positive. After boththe exposure and the application of voltage were stopped or after theapplication of voltage was stopped, the charge carrying medium was takenout in a bright or dark place and then (1) a CRT picture was formedaccording to microarea potential reading method, and (2) a picture wasformed by toner developing.

In the microarea potential reading method, X-Y axes scanning was carriedout by a 100×100 μm microarea surface potential determining probe toprocess potential data in the unit of 100 μm for displaying a pictureimage on a CRT by potential-brightness conversion. An analog potentiallatent image having 200 V of the largest exposure portion potential and0 V of unexposed portion potential, was formed on the charge carryingmedium, and it was picturized or developed on the CRT with a 100 μmresolution.

In the toner developing (2), a positive image was formed by dipping thecharge carrying medium taken out from a camera in a wet black tonercharged positive. The toner image had a high resolution of 1 μm.

Full color pictures were taken by the following manners:

(1) Prism-type three faces separation method

Red, green and blue filters were arranged over three faces of the prismas shown in FIG. 20, and the above described medium was set over eachface of the prism. Then, a picture of an object was taken with f=1.4,shutter speed of 1/30 second.

(2) Display on color CRT

Each of red, green and blue latent images was similarly read by scanningand fluorescent coloring was made on the CRT to correspond to the latentimage, thereby forming a multicolor picture by composing the threecolors separated pictures on the CRT.

(3) Toner developing method

Charge carrying mediums, which were exposed to color separationexposure, were respectively developed with cyan, magenta and yellowtoners which were charged negatively to form toner picture images.Before toner images were dried, a plain paper was place over the medium,having the cyan toner image formed, and then positive corona dischargewas performed on the paper. Then, the toner image was transferred to thepaper by separating the latter from the medium. Subsequently, themagenta and yellow toner images were similarly transferred to the cyanpicture image on the paper by registering them to form a fullcolorpicture image on the paper.

What we claim:
 1. A recording apparatus for recording informationincluded in an exposed light applied thereto, comprising:(a) a firstelectrode layer which transmits said exposed light incident thereto; (b)a second electrode layer facing said first electrode layer, and a powersource for applying a given voltage between said first and secondelectrode layer; (c) a photoconductive layer provided between said firstand second electrode layers responsive to said exposed light from saidfirst electrode layer for generating carriers in accordance with anintensity of said exposed light per unit area of said photoconductivelayer and also for transporting said carriers toward said secondelectrode layer in response to an electric field produced by applicationof said given voltage to said first and second electrode layer; and (d)a recording layer provided between said second electrode and carriertransport layer for recording said information by charge developed bytransportation of said carriers in said carrier transport layer, saidrecording layer transmitting said exposed light from said firstelectrode layer.
 2. A recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid photoconductive layer is comprised by a carrier generation layerand a carrier transport layer, said carrier generation layer providedbetween said first and second electrode layers responsive to saidexposed light from said first electrode layer for generating carriers inaccordance with an intensity of said electro-magnetic beam per unit areaof said carrier generation layer, said carrier transport layersandwiched between said carrier generation layer and said secondelectrode layer for transporting said carriers toward said secondelectrode layer in reponse to an electric field produced by applicationof said given voltage to said first and second electrode layer.
 3. Arecording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said exposed light isirradiated from said photoconductive layer side though said firstelectrode layer side and said photoconductive layer and said recordinglayer are arranged along an optical axis.
 4. A recording apparatus asclaimed as claimed in claim 1, wherein a space is provided between therecording layer and the photoconductive layer.
 5. A recording apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein said recording layer is joined to saidphotoconductive layer.
 6. A recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein a dielectric layer is interposed between said recording layerand photoconductive layer.
 7. A recording apparatus as claimed in claim1, further comprising:switching means for entering and interrupting apiece of the input information, wherein the piece of the inputinformation is entered through the switching means.
 8. A recordingapparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the switching means comprises aswitch for applying and removing said applied voltage between said firstelectrode and said second electrode.
 9. A recording apparatus as claimedin claim 7, wherein the switching means comprises a switch for applyingand removing said exposed light irradiated to said photoconductivelayer.
 10. A recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising an optical system located in front of said first electrode sothat information input is carried out through said optical system.
 11. Arecording apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said optical systemis a color separation optical system for separating said inputinformation into a plurality of different color information.
 12. Arecording apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said colorseparating optical system comprises three prism blocks for separatingimage light into light beams R, G and B.
 13. A recording apparatus asclaimed in claim 11, wherein said color separating optical system is acolor-separation filter means including a set of plural different colorfilters in which one pixel is formed a set of R, G and B filter.
 14. Arecording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said membersof the recording apparatus is formed in a shape selected from the groupconsisting of square board, film shape.
 15. A recording apparatus asclaimed in claim 7, wherein said recording layer can be continuouslysupplied from a feed means, and timing of supply is matched withoperation time of the switching means.
 16. A recording apparatus asclaimed in claim 14, wherein each of said members of the recordingapparatus is incorporated in a cassette having a window, and therecorded layer is sequentially movable to the window.
 17. A recordingapparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said recording layer is formedin film shape and the film can be sequentially supplied.
 18. A recordingapparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said recording layer is formedin disk shape and the disk can be rotated.
 19. A recording apparatus asclaimed in claim 16, wherein a bar code having information of themembers is marked on the surface of said cassette.
 20. A recordingapparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein an IC memory is mounted onsaid cassette.
 21. A recording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, whereininformation light electro-optically modulated by audio informationconverted to electric signal is used as input information.
 22. Arecording apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein information lightelectro-optically modulated by audio information converted to electricsignal is used as input information together with image light.
 23. Arecording apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein information lightelectro-optically modulated by said audio information converted toelectric signal is laser beam.
 24. A recording apparatus as claimed inclaim 22, provided with audio information input function, whereinmodulation of laser beam by said audio information converted to electricsignal is performed by PCM modulated audio information.
 25. A recordingapparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said audio information formodulating information light is stored in a circulating memory with agiven capacity and audio information is recorded for a given time beforeand after light exposure of image information recording through opticalmodulation of laser beams by reading output of the circulating memory.